I finished the book not so long ago and I had to sit a moment and just be blank after what I'd read. It was good, and I'm not sorry I bought an HP book in hardcover for the first time, but man oh man oh man.

Random thoughts:
I wonder if JKR is mad that there were a few articles out there speculating that DD was going to be killed? I'm a little sorry I read those, since it seemed that the fact that he died was sort of muted for me. Maybe it's just because the pace of the story at that point, as others have mentioned.

I could just hear the sound of millions of shippers' hearts breaking as I read (myself included, sort of). I'm firmly H/Hr, but I don't mind other ships. But it just seemed like JKR decided to toss everybody in the air and see where they came down. I can see the foreshadowing for some of the pairings but mostly everything seemed rushed. Alas. It seems sort of like the romance was what she cut out to keep the book shorter than OotP. Kinda like the romance in Star Wars Episode III. *gag*

I can't say, in retrospect, that I was entirely surprised by Snape being the half-blood prince, but it caught me off guard while I was reading. I had an early clue that Draco was the one Moaning Myrtle was comforting in the bathroom, but I never dreamed it was for killing DD, even if I pretty much had figured he was the one to die. I will admit that I never liked Snape, but geez. Talk about a double agent. I've always wanted to hate him, but left off because he did seem to help, occasionally, and there was the whole issue of DD's trust in him...I hate to say it, but Harry is so vindicated at the end, and there's nothing but an empty feeling of impotence when everyone realizes it. I'd like to think that perhaps because of the Unbreakable Vow there's still some good in Snape, but I'll let myself hate him a little more now.

I think JKR did what she was supposed to as a writer: she makes you want to read the next book. This wasn't my favorite, but I dearly want to know what happens in the end, and I can't stand the fact that it will probably be another two years before we find out. She didn't do it the way I wanted or expected, which I appreciate. I will agree that it seemed like she took way too many elements out of fanfiction or at least was influenced by the fans that make somewhat insignificant details into great epics. I mean, come on. Who really thought that Blaise Zabini would make it back into the story? I am pleased that she used the name of the charity that Dan R. supports, Demezla House, as a name for one of the Quidditch players.

There were two things outside of plot twists and ships sunk that surprised me: Draco is mentioned as lying down with his head in a girl's lap, and somewhere in the book, a girl is referred to as a slut. Call me a prude, but I never expected to see those in a HP book. I realize that the book is portraying characters that are well into their teens, but it just seemed that JKR was above using such language. I mean, even Uncle Vernon actually said "what the hell" or some variant thereof, instead of "swearing loudly" as has been used in the past. JKR has had a decade to write these things, though, so I suppose it makes sense that she's using more mature (or immature, depending on how you look at it) language.

I can see how this might have been a tangent of the Chamber of Secrets. We learn a lot about Voldemort's background and about that diary that mysteriously shows up at Hogwarts. I'm glad she didn't try to fit it in there though. There's no way things could have developed properly if she had.

JKR must have some hell of an idea of how it's all going to end to drop so many bombs on us like this. I can't pinpoint why it seemed quite so much different than the previous ones. I'm sure I'll reread it soon, after I've had a while to think about it. Do let me know what you think. Sorry about the length. Wish I had someone to chat about it with. Could be you