I was just ten years old when I first dubiously picked up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at the suggestion of my parents, and was first flung headlong into JK Rowling's magical world.

Now, seven years later, I have finished what I, JK and so many others began all that time ago, and can conclude that Rowling has lost none of her mastery of storytelling since that first book. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows successfully retains the sense of wonderment intrinsic to all the books in the series.

As readers of the series will know, with the rise of Lord Voldemort, the betrayal of Severus Snape and his murder of Albus Dumbledore, Harry is left with a quest to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes - objects of incredible Dark Magic in which You-Know-Who has imprisoned a fragment of his own soul, tying him to the mortal plane. Only with the destruction of these items can He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finally be defeated. In the past, Harry has killed giant snakes, fought the soul-sucking Dementors and duelled Voldemort himself - and still managed to hand in his homework on time. But now, with Voldemort and his Death Eaters growing stronger, this mission is surely Harry's most dangerous ever.

In this book, Rowling gradually brings together the threads of the story she has woven during the past ten years, resulting in an unexpected and dramatic climax. Seemingly insignificant details from the past books will be shown to have far more importance than could be guessed, and with so many unsolved plot elements, Rowling's way of gradually revealing the truth to both the reader and to Harry is done with incredible skill. You will be guessing through to the last chapter. If I could say one thing to Ms Rowling - and I hope Potter fans would agree - it is this: "Mischief Managed".

* What did you think? Is the final book the best yet or has J K Rowling delivered a howler? Send your reviews to: newsdesk@nne.co.uk.