I can't believe I'm saying this, but...
I LOVED IT.
A few things:
1 - I know that I have about two LJ friends, so this is really just for my sake.
2 - I was expecting to be disappointed by this book. Years of waiting, years of buildup and satisyfing tension, far too many works of fanfiction: I was sure that it would signal the inevitable, saddening end of an era.
3 - I couldn't help it; I read the leaked epilogue. Anyone who's seen Big Fish will, hopefully, see why I wanted to - know the way the story ends, savor everything before it.
On to the good stuff:
I absolutely loved this book. It was the kind of breathtaking adventure where the first chapters of the book feel as if they were read lifetimes ago. It was compelling and imaginative, and far better than I expected.
There were parts I was slightly let down at - Ron's departure, Harry's suddenly using the Imperius. Also the fact that Draco Malfoy had a cameo role before appearing for the happy finish.
And yes, there were inconsistencies. And I do really truly miss Hogwarts, with its beautiful protection and camaraderie. (And the epilogue was a forgivably cheesy cop-out)
But I could not put this book DOWN. I'm not sure how I like it as a piece of the Harry Potter series, but on it's own? Masterful.
Since I can't really write a coherent review at this time, I'll make it easy.
These Are A Few of My Favorite Things:
-The deaths. I was stunned when Moody fell in the first few chapters, but I liked that each death was for Harry's sake, noble-like. Dobby, Hedwig, Ted Tonks, even Wormtail. And Remus and Tonks, though I was hoping they'd live.
-Phineas' portrait being put in Ron's chair by Hermione made me cry.
-Percy falling into the battle, and Fleur breaking the consequent silence by getting Lupin to show her a photo of his new baby boy!
-Nagini emerging from Bathilda; the entire Godric's Hollow scene
-Aberforth Dumbledore. As well as the terrible Dumbledore brothers' backstory.
-Ron and Hermione finally getting together. Right in the middle of a life-and-death situation. Because of house elves.
-Snape's death; not that I wanted the man dead, but life would have been agony, and in the end Harry revered him.
-The Snape/Lily/Petunia flashbacks. Wonderful. (As well as fodder for a million now-canonish MWPP scenarios)
-Dumbledore blackmailing Snape into espionage. Cruel, and yet incredibly poignant.
-THE FACT THAT THE 132948203984023 FICS WHICH SAID DUMBLEDORE WAS DYING AND COMMANDED SNAPE TO KILL HIM WERE RIGHT.
-The entire wartime scenario. Muggleborns being Kissed, the school taught by Death Eaters. I was impressed, considering I was afraid that, downplaying the war for the sake of young readers, JKR would let the inevitable wartime troubles go ignored, or be only slight. Instead she went right into it, and constructed the perfect, gruesome world.
-You know, I expected the Wood between the Worlds - style scene, and when I began reading it I cringed, mostly because it is sososo trite. But somehow it was touching, mostly due its calm absurdity.
-"Stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was. I've been trying to tell you that for years."
-Narcissa Malfoy. Lying for her son.
-Harry's use of the same magic as his mother, defending all he loved.
& SO MUCH MORE.