Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
In some ways, Goblet of Fire is the best HP book to this point in the series. While we miss the obligatory Hogwarts Quiddich matches, the combination of the World Cup at the beginning of the tale, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament more than make up for it. More importantly, the story continues to darken and the tension ramps up, as Harry & Co. deal with conspiracies, death threats, and the looming return of Lord Voldemort.
On the other hand, the book has more than a few problems. We get a big influx of characters from the outside (Fudge, Bagman, the elder Diggory, Crouch) that are difficult to get a read on or keep straight (not helped by some consolidation and mixing of roles in the movie remake). Further adding to the cast, the arrivals from the other schools in the Tournament are sketched out more lightly than even in the film. Plus, we get another House Elf (and Hermione’s fixation to free the all) to deal with.
But the greatest weakness in the book is with its protagonist. Harry here, more than in the past, is a passive character, driving nothing in the tale. Everywhere we go, everything that happens, he’s is without agency, dragged along and reacting and being helped to overcome obstacles. When given a chance to do something (preparing for tournament events, dealing with nascent romance), he takes a passive, negligent role. Even in the climactic final conflict, he depends on the folly of some and the help of others to make it through.
Goblet of Fire is great for learning about the rest of the Wizarding World that will play a role in the final three books, but it’s not very good at making Harry Potter look like the hero.
(Jeez … hard to believe this book is over a decade old …)