If you are planning to purchase this book, please do so used in order to curb J.K. Rowling's spending on her transphobia.Time for another Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire reread, but this time with pictures! This review will be primarily focusing on the Illustrated Edition, though I will probably be adding some of my views on the story as well. There will be spoilers, especially in the quotes section.
The cover is alright. Definitely not my favorite of the Illustrated Editions. The Norwegian Ridgeback’s design is interesting. I did notice a slightly amusing detail on the back of Snape smiling as he watches Harry confront the dragon. Though we can’t see the other side of the stands, it does seem like the enclosure in which Harry and the dragon are is waaaay too small and it’s a wonder it hasn’t gone up in flames by this point. The opening pages depict the World Cup camping grounds and really drive home how bright and festive that event is.
I love the illustration of the Riddle House. It’s spot on and I kind of want it blown up for a Halloween decoration of some sort. The entire chapter is quite atmospherically done.
The illustrations of the predawn English countryside in “The Portkey” are gorgeous. They remind me very much of some old Beatrix Potter videos I watched as a kid at my grandparents’ house. I do wish they’d switched to white text here, though, as the black blends in a bit too well with the gray-green background. Gotta say, the illustrations of Cedric and Krum (in the next chapter) look quite similar.
Not really sure why Draco warranted a full, two-page spread in the middle of “The Dark Mark,” but there it is. The forest looks properly forest-y. I never pictured Draco to have such a square jaw.
I quite like the Hogwarts Express illustrations. Gorgeous.
Things I did not need an illustration of: Blast-Ended Skrewts
Love, love, love the Beauxbatons carriage/flying horses illustration. Love me some well-rendered horses.
The portrait of Rita Skeeter is arresting, to say the least. I suppose it is more book-accurate than not, but uh… it’s unflattering.
The combo of Hungarian Horntail paintings with the actual text was very effective. I wasn’t expecting a second Horntail depiction so soon… or at all… but the second one matched really, really well with the text.
Interesting rendition of merpeople, or at least their faces. Kind of cat-like, really.
Wow, that portrait of Winky in “The Madness of Mr Crouch.” It’s… uh… wow probably the darkest portrait, in terms of subject matter. Hats off to whichever artist did that one.
Omg, the illustration depicting Voldemort’s “child-ish” form is hella creepy. As is the illustration of naked Voldemort on the following page. Very evocative.
Of course, there are many more illustrations within the book. All beautifully done. I highly recommend either finding the illustrations online (they’re probably floating around by now) or checking out this edition from your library. However you choose to view these, please figure out the best way to do so without giving JK Rowling anymore money. She definitely doesn’t need it and will only use it to fund anti-trans nonsense.
Favorite Lines
"Through the gates, flanked with statues of winged board, and up the sweeping drive the carriages trundled, swaying dangerously in what was fast becoming a gale." - Narration
"Talon-clipping by charms... treating scale rot... this is no good, this is for nutters like Hagrid who want to keep them healthy..." - Harry Potter
"Secrecy Sensor. Vibrates when it detects concealment and lies... no use here, of course, too much interference -- students in every direction lying about why they haven't done their homework. Been humming ever since I got here. I had to disable my Sneakoscope because it wouldn't stop whistling. It's extra sensitive, picks up stuff about a mile around. Of course, it could be picking up more than kids' stuff," he added in a growl. - Mad Eye Moody (Barty Crouch Jr.)
"I have gone temporarily deaf and haven't any idea what you said, Harry," said Dumbledor, twiddling his thumbs and staring at the ceiling. - Albus Dumbledore
"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." - Sirius Black
In Other News
I finished my Tsunomon project over on OviPets! Tsunomon took 4 months with a 5 month gap while I waited on a Seasonal Mutation. Tsunomon is part of my Village of Beginnings Project Line and based off the Digimon of the same name.
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