Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (#4)

It is not surprising that J. K. Rowling needed a break before writing the fifth Harry Potter book. The first four came out within a couple of years, to record breaking success. What is surprising is how she managed to maintain such quality in the first four, each new book being longer and more complex, while building fantastically on its predecessor. The fifth installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, promises to be over a third longer than the fourth volume, Goblet of Fire, which is staggering considering that Goblet of Fire is 734 pages long! More staggering still, in regards to Rowling's output, is that Goblet of Fire is a really great book. While at times darker than the previous volumes, and with some moments of genuine, heightened emotion, Goblet of Fire retains Rowling's deliciously wicked humor and startling imagination. While the wait is still on for Order of the Phoenix, due to be released on June 21, Goblet of Fire is the perfect way to remember what all the fuss is about. Georgie, Powells.com

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is midway through both his training as a wizard and his coming of age. He wants to get away from the malicious Dursleys and go to the Quidditch World Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about his crush, Cho Chang (and maybe do more than dream).

And now that he’s gotten the hang of things at Hogwarts — he hopes — he just wants to be a normal fourteen-year-old wizard.

But even by his standards, Harry's year is anything but normal. First Dumbledore announces the revival of a grand competition that hasn't taken place for one hundred years: the Triwizard Tournament, where a Hogwarts champion will compete against rivals from two other schools of magic in three highly dangerous tasks. Then someone frames Harry to participate in the tournament—which really means someone wants him dead.

Harry is guided through the competition by Professor Alastor Moody, this year's Defenst Against the Dark Arts teacher, but he must also contend with a nasty reporter named Rita Skeeter, who digs up some highly unflattering secrets about Hagrid; a terrible fight with Ron, who is deeply jealous of Harry's fame; Hermione's newfound activism on behalf of house-elves; and the terrifying prospect of asking a date to the Yule Ball.

Worst of all, Lord Voldemort may finally have gathered the materials necessary for his rejuvenation... and he has a faithful servant at Hogwarts waiting only for a sign. No, nothing is every normal for Harry Potter. And in his case, different can be deadly.

"Rowling seems to have the spell-casting powers she assigns her characters: this fourth volume might be her most thrilling yet. Rowling plants the red herrings, the artful clues and tricky surprises that disarm the most attentive audience. The muscle-building heft of this volume notwithstanding, the clamor for book five will begin as soon as readers finish installment four." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

J.K. Rowling is the author of the bestselling Harry Potter series of seven books, published between 1997 and 2007, which have sold over 450 million copies worldwide, are distributed in more than 200 territories and translated into 79 languages, and have been turned into eight blockbuster films by Warner Bros. She has written three companion volumes to the series in aid of charity: Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in aid of Comic Relief; and The Tales of Beedle the Bard in aid of her children's charity Lumos. Her website and e-publisher Pottermore is the digital hub of the Wizarding World. She has recently collaborated with writer Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany on the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts Parts One and Two, which is now running at The Palace Theatre in London s West End. J.K. Rowling is also the author of a novel for adult readers, The Casual Vacancy, and, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, is the author of three crime novels featuring private detective Cormoran Strike, which are to be adapted for BBC television.