"Hallows" has the driving, almost galloping motion of all the other books. Indeed, it moves faster, and covers more ground, than the others. This book largely revolves around the three main 17-year-olds, including Harry, who are truly on their own after they drop out of school to oppose the evil Voldemort, who has taken over the Ministry of Magic. The book spotlights the twin great themes of death and love. Images of graves, ghouls, ghosts, corpses, and bereavement haunt its pages. In "Hallows," one only occasionally glimpses the golden glow, manic invention, and humor prevalent in the first book. The struggle of good versus evil culminates in the apocalyptic Battle of Hogwarts. An epilogue describes the main characters' lives after the saga concludes.

— Liz Rosenberg, Globe Correspondent