For most of the book, the main plot is about searching for a plot: It is basically a murder mystery in reverse, leading up to the shocking, though not terribly surprising, death of a major character. "Half-Blood Prince" also ties up several loose ends from earlier volumes, "Chamber of Secrets" in particular, while providing heavy doses of exposition for the final tome. The rest of the book is the more familiar chronicling of life in the wizarding world, which from a logical standpoint is overshadowed by the growing forces of darkness, but from a dramatic standpoint is therefore no longer as fascinating.
J.K. Rowling's writing improved in some ways, being less gimmicky and continuing her pattern of treating the reader as wiser with each book. At the same time, her style is looser, less interested in providing a tight narrative. I love the book, but several chapters could have used a trim.
Apart from the brutal third act, the book is not as dark as "Order of the Phoenix". Although the deaths pile higher than ever before, there is, as one character opines, a bit more love in the world. And a bit more humor: There are dozens of throwaway gags, with more hits than misses, and the magnificently odd Luna Lovegood returns. Plus Harry does not SHOUT as much, having thankfully learned how to handle some of his angst; indeed, a scene where he calmly yet firmly expresses his loyalties stands out in my mind as one of the most genuinely mature passages in the series--Rowling apparently recognized this too, as she provides a reprise.
Now, how long till book seven?
Buy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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