The story continues escalating with real stakes, real character development, and tons of accumulated background that is used well instead of ignored as in the og series. For example, in the very first installation, the series introduces life debts as serious and binding (within a limited context), and this book then sees the bad side working to exploit this mechanism. Characters are also still growing and feeling very vivid and real. Good work.
Plot summary
Beware: full spoilers! Also probably incomplete and possibly incomprehensible.
Harry deals with not having his hand, and also is told he’s a Horcrux by Quirrel. Umridge is at school again, and the DADA is set up better. Draco escalates his spying. Sirius seriously injures his arm when he, Dumbledore and Tonks recover the ring.
Due to Draco’s meddling, Hermione is summoned to Umbridge (when Draco was intending for Ron, who’s in on it). She’s Imperio’d and given Veritaserum, big OH FUCK, leaking the club and the Order and the prophecy, then obliviating Umbridge clumsily. Draco goes back and restores her memories of everything but the DADA, but successfully threatens her into not using her knowledge too openly, citing his father’s hatred of Imperio (lmao).
Dumbledore touches the ring, gets cursed, and has about a year to live (because the ring consumes his magic every time he uses it) despite Harry’s intervention, unless Bill can come up with something.