For today’s post, I have decided to do my own ranking of my current opinions on the whole Harry Potter series. Now, I want to preface this by saying that none of the seven Harry Potter books ranked here are not amazing, this is simply my current favorite ranking of the novels! This is also subject to change as I continue to re-read them, but for now, I stand by this ranking.
Number 7: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
~The second book currently ranks at my lowest place on the list. The story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s second year includes the first usage of Polyjuice Potion and the defeat of the first Horcrux (not that Harry realized it at the time). It is a fun book, especially when it comes to Gildroy Lockhart, who is one of the most outrageous teachers in Hogwarts history during Harry’s generation! All that being said, it is not quite as compelling as the rest of the books, at least in my current opinion.
Number 6: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Philosopher’s Stone)
~The first book ranks as my number six choice currently. It is the introduction to the Wizarding World, making it one of the most iconic in the series. It really is the foundation upon which the rest of this truly amazing world is built!
Number 5: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
~The third book ranks as my number five choice here. The backstory of the Marauders is something that makes this book so great! I really wish it would have been better fleshed out in the film adaptation. It is truly important as it begins to build Harry’s relationship with his godfather Sirius.
Number 4: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
~The fifth book ranks as my number four choice on this list. It is the book that introduced us to some of my favorite characters, including Tonks and especially Luna Lovegood! The tale is more emotionally painful to read, as Harry is often disbelieved and Dumbledore is made out to be a senile old man. That being said the story of Dumbledore’s Army and the show of how trusted Harry is by his true allies is a beautiful set-up for the final two installments.
Number 3: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
~The fourth book ranks as my number three choice. It is the first book to truly begin to get more complicated and darker in nature. It was so complex that it is the first film where we see that just countless things were fully cut from the novel during the adaptation. Anyone who has not read this book, only seeing the film, has no idea what S.P.E.W. is, nor can they appreciate how important Dobby is across several books (not just the second and seventh as the films may lead people to believe). Also, people like myself were super annoyed at them putting Hermione in pink dress robes, they were periwinkle blue in the book (this is emphasized, making me wish they would have put her in the correct color). I also miss Ludo Bagman and the Weasley Twins testing their Ton Tongue Toffee on Dudley! Oh and we get to actually have the full backstory of Fleur being part Veela, which is never acknowledged in the movie. At the end of the day, this one is leaps and bounds better than the film.
Number 2: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
~My number two pick is the sixth book in the series. This is the book where we get so much of Voldemort’s backstory and first learn about Horcruxes. We get further developments in the romantic lives of the characters, as they are coming of age. Ron had that horrid relationship with Lavender Brown (which is hilarious, but so bad). Harry realized he had feelings for Ginny, who has become a strong and self-assured young witch, not at all like the watered-down way she was portrayed in the films (I do not blame Bonnie Wright, as I believe she did her best with the direction and writing she was given). Not to mention that Ron and Hermione begin to acknowledge their feelings for one another once he and Lavender are over. The ending of Snape killing Dumbledore was so shocking the first time I read it. Before that point, there was so much pathos in Malfoy being forced to plot to kill Dumbledore at the behest of Voldemort.
Number 1: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
~Ever since I read the final novel it has stood as my favorite of the series! While my opinions on the other six may change, I doubt they would ever surpass this one. The final book really is the perfect climax to the series. Harry, Ron, and Hermione spend most of the book camping and trying to hunt down and destroy Horcruxes, having been put on the mission by Dumbledore (who even willed them items to help). They also have adventures infiltrating Malfoy Manor, Gringotts Bank, and the Ministry of Magic. The death of many important characters makes this one hard to read sometimes, but it all feels like it had to end up this way. We get to learn the truth of Snape’s history with Lily Potter, and finally, get a fully rounded picture of who he had been. Harry sacrificed himself in order to defeat Voldemort, of course, his act only killed off the piece of Voldemort’s soul residing within him, allowing him to kill the Dark Lord once and for all. The Battle of Hogwarts went on to end the Second Wizarding War. Of course, the novel ends 19 years later with Harry and Ginny married, Ron and Hermione also married, and all of them dropping off their kids at the Hogwarts Express!
~I hope that you have enjoyed my ranking of the Harry Potter Series. Where do you place the books on your ranking? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
White Rose of Avalon 