On July 20, Harry Potter fans around the world flocked to their favorite bookstores to join in the festivities that marked the end of the series. As a die-hard myself, I went to Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park that evening to pick up a copy and revel in the last Potter release party. I found myself in the middle of a Harry Potter extravaganza with amazing decorations, a trivia contest, great costumes and fun activities. It seemed like every Potter fan in the world was there, dressed in wizard apparel and playing quidditch or buying a new pair of Potter-style glasses.

But amidst all the excitement, there was a lingering sadness that accompanied the final release. After leaving each of the previous parties, I would think excitedly of the next one. Perhaps the release parties for the seventh book were so big and exciting because everyone knew they would be the last hurrah. Afterwards, we would have to move on.

Shortly before midnight, the Kepler’s staff told us to line up to receive our books. Because I was near the back of the line, I had to watch in envy while others walked past with the book, wondering the following: Would Snape redeem himself? Which characters would die? Harry would certainly defeat Voldemort, but how would he pull it off?

A day later, I got my answers. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is an excellent book and a fitting end to the series. It reads similarly to the previous books in the series, although it is much darker, faster-paced and more dangerous. Like the fourth and sixth books, the seventh book starts out with scenes from another character’s perspective. These scenes include both a glimpse into Voldemort’s current whereabouts and a cold-blooded murder.

The seventh book has the least exposition of any book in the series, possibly because Rowling assumed that readers of the last book would already familiar with the canon. This immediate jump into a thick and fast-moving plot is welcome. It draws readers quickly into the story and puts them on edge from the very beginning. The deaths of beloved characters within the first few chapters leave the burning question, “who’s next?” at the forefront of the reader’s mind.

In all the hype leading up to this book, multitudes of theories cropped up. Many of them proved to be correct, often with humorous or heart-wrenching twists. For instance, Severus Snape, the ill-reputed potions master, sparked major debates when he killed Dumbledore at the end of the sixth book. I always thought he had something important to tell Harry and that he would either die before he could divulge it or be killed right after Rowling let readers know that he was on Dumbledore’s side all along. Unsurprisingly, Rowling keeps Snape in the shadows for much of the seventh book, mentioning him here and there and leaving tantalizing hints. When the moment comes for him to reveal where his loyalties lie, it comes in a series of tear-jerking memories. It turns out that he was loyal to Dumbledore, but only because he loved Harry’s mother, Lily Potter. Unfortunately, he dies right after giving Harry the memories that prove his loyalty.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a handful of flaws. The most disappointing was the epilogue. It read more like a fan fiction than a real “Harry Potter” book. Everything turned out the way it should (relationship-wise) and it left no room for another novel, but it also left important questions unanswered. The other slightly disappointing part of the book was the time Harry, Ron and Hermione spent in hiding where they did nothing but move their tent from one location to the next.

Though I was sad to turn the last page, I came to the end of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” with a sense of satisfaction. It is a fun, exciting read and everything that a good Potter book should be. I can truthfully say that the book is my favorite in the series and I highly recommend it. Just remember the Hogwarts motto—Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus (Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon).