Roughly two years ago, rags-to-riches author J.K. Rowling left the world of Harry Potter to live her life and became the richest woman in the world — even wealthier than the Queen of England.

She’s back, and her writing has become leaner, as evident by a book almost 300 pages shorter than the last. There are just as many events crammed in, and minute details sparkle and shine that should be picked up in the next novel.

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and company return for the sixth incarnation of Rowling’s amazingly successful series of books. They are a year older, more mature and more emotionally developed as the characters take a much more aggressive approach to the opposite sex.

How does an aggressive, jealous best friend act in the face of a relationship that intrudes upon a friendship? Through very fickle means, apparently, but to humorous results. Aside from teenage hormones, there is a fair sprinkling of subtle humor underhandedly injected into the story.

Voldemort is back, but he does not reveal himself. His power and presence is felt through the fear permeating throughout the pages. The masses are fearful of his attacks which he orchestrates in hiding. The shared uncertain fear is reminiscent of Osama bin Laden’s presence in the real world. An underhanded, albeit humorous, reference to a certain president of a distant nation actually opens up the first paragraph.

This next to last work is more sharply focused than Rowling’s previous works. Her main concern is her main characters. Very few new characters show up, aside from a few more villains, a new defense against the dark arts professor and a new Minister of Magic. The story rarely takes sidetrips where they need not wander. Though few people will complain about its length, some may feel cheated after the size of the last book. What she trims in length, Rowling more than makes up for in the maturation of her characters from start to finish. Rowling even finds a way for the reader to sympathize with Harry’s villainous counterpart, Draco Malfoy.

Despite a devastating conclusion, the book does end on the positive note of love being able to shine even in the moments where little hope can be found.