When I got the Illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for Christmas, I knew it was going to be the first book out of the haul I read. I finished reading it in just a couple of days, unfortunately for me (I didn’t want it to end).
I’m not entirely sure how this review will work out, as I haven’t written any notes to guide me this time. Also, it will be based more around this particular edition, so the drawings involved, rather than the story. This will probably be a shorter review than usual.
So know that’s been said…
Let’s fangirl about Harry Potter!
Title: The Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Author: JK Rowling and Jim Kay
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Series Status: The 1st book in the new illustrated editions of The Harry Potter series
Number of Pages: 246
My Rating: 5//5 stars!
(Found on Goodreads)
Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay’s dazzling depiction of the wizarding world and much loved characters in this full-colour illustrated hardback edition of the nation’s favourite children’s book – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Brimming with rich detail and humour that perfectly complements J.K. Rowling’s timeless classic, Jim Kay’s glorious illustrations will captivate fans and new readers alike.
When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he’s the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord’s curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers, which could be valuable, dangerous – or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
Like most people in the reading community, Harry Potter is my all time favourite series. Partly for the magic, partly for the characters, partly for the nostalgia. So how excited was I when I found out NEW BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATED EDITIONS ARE BEING RELEASED EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS?
Very.
(And that’s an understatement)
Rereading this series is always one of my favourite things to do, but reading it with new additional drawings was just incredible. I can’t get over the art. The detail in every single drawing was unbelievable, and I spent ages just staring and drinking in every small bit of it.
I loved how the art varied too. Sometimes there would be simple backgrounds with ink splotches dotted around so make it look like parchment. Sometimes small diagrams would be between the text to back up a description. And then there were full page drawings, some of them being double page spreads. There was even some small added snippets through these drawings, diagrams taken from the books they studied. The art really did just add to the magic of the story.
The actual story was just as amazing as ever. No matter how many times I reread this story, I’ll never get bored of it. Since this is the first book in the series there’s plenty of world building involved, now enhanced through the art too. The adventures are fun and fast paced, and the characters just as lovable as ever.
I know that this book will be a prized possession of mine. I’ll still be flicking through the pages in many years to come!
Rated 5//5 stars!
Order from Amazon!
– You can get it for just £15.00 there!
Have you read the Illustrated Harry Potter?
Let me know!
And now guys…I need your help!
I’m going to start reading another book later today, but since I’ve gotten so many books lately, I can’t decide which.
SO on twitter, I made a poll earlier today to get people to vote for which I should read next. If you follow me on twitter – or even if you don’t – I’d love if you could head over there and vote for one of the books for me!
There’s a link to my account down below!
(And thank you so much if you do vote!)
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Come and visit me!
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A frolic through fiction 
I actually didn’t like Harry Potter. I know, I tell people that and they make the funniest faces OMG it’s like I told them that I killed their children or something. I’M SO SORRY I BETRAYED YOU! But anyway. *ahem*
I voted on your Twitter and followed you too 🙂 DEFINITELY read the Wrath and The Dawn next, this review from Cait (crosses fingers that I did the coding for the link right) says basically everything I need to. But then, I’ve just tied TWATD with The Raven Boys so I dunno. READ BOTH AT ONCE MWEHE YOU HAVE TWO EYES FOR A REASON XD
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YASS I DID THE CODING RIGHT #ProComputerist XD
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Aw it’s a shame you don’t like it since so many people adore it! And thank you! Somehow I don’t think I’d be so great at that kind of multitasking so I’ll have to let the twitter poll decide which I’ll read next haha! I’ll probably read the one in 2nd place straight after though 😀 I had a feeling The Wrath and the Dawn and The Raven Boys would be the most popular from the poll!
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I love Harry Potter, like you when I saw the Illustrated Editions I had to buy a copy, and I was so glad I did. I haven’t had a change to re-read the book but I flick through the pages and the pictures are so beautiful it was definitely worth the money I spent.
I would recommend The Wrath and the Dawn next, I haven’t read The Raven Boys (it’s on my to-read list for next year) but I have read TWATD and thought it was brilliant.
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It’s definitely worth the money! And I’ve started The Wrath and the Dawn a couple of hours ago 😀 seems great so far!
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Oh definitely, that was my first thought when it arrived, and having a copy of all seven on my bookshelves at the end will probably look amazing. I can’t wait to see what they come up with for the next books in the series. I hope you enjoy the whole of the book then 🙂 I’ll be interested in hearing about what you think when you’ve finished reading it.
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I can’t wait to have illustrated editions for each of the books *heart eyes*! And I’ll definitely have a review for it when I’m done so there’s that 🙂
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