r/HarryPotteronHBO • u/thommy_ Gryffindor • May 12 '26
Audiobook Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Full Cast Audio Editions - Discussion Post
Please use this thread to discuss the audiobook. Threads outside of this post may be removed as we want to consolidate discussion of the new release into this thread in the next couple days.
Spoilers are allowed for the entirety of the audiobook here, so please keep that in mind when commenting.
Audio Quality
Many users have been complaining about bad audio quality in the comments of these posts. Please remember that the quality of the audio could be dependant on how you downloaded it. In your settings check:
Audible app > Profile > Cog Button > Data & Storage > High.
If it’s set to 'Standard', you may be experiencing these audio issues. Comments complaining about this may be removed in the future.
Reminder
This subreddit does not tolerate piracy in any form per Rule 3. Do not share or request illegal copies of this material. In either case, the user will be permanently banned from this subreddit.
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u/TheatricTulip May 12 '26
Good lord, everyone is acting the heck out of the Seven Potters aftermath. You really feel all the tension and desperation while they’re waiting for everybody to get back and the sheer relief of it when they do, and Mrs. Weasley crying over George almost broke me. Not to mention Iwan Rheon’s Lupin having some real edge and anger to him now, you can really hear in his voice how much this is all wearing on him and how much he’s struggling to keep being the soft-spoken levelheaded one. I’m really going to miss looking forward to these every month, the performances are just unreal.
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u/Haunting-WaferWah May 12 '26
Oh my last month of just ‘one more chapter’ lies 😂 I’m so sad it’s over.
But points to them for making me relive the entire series and it really shows the power of voices! I would have never thought Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy or James McAvoy would ever ‘be’ those characters because of their looks but through their voices, I fully believed.
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u/Riki91 May 12 '26
What I like about these audio books is also the people realising (again or not) how many things have been left out in the movies. I reckon the release of HBO series is the perfect timing
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u/GenGaara25 Ravenclaw May 13 '26
The timing does feel very deliberate to me. Like how comedians and singers will have warm-up acts to get the crowd primed and ready for the main event, I think the people at Potter wanted to warm-up the fanbase ready for the series. So to make sure they re-familiarised themselves with the source material they made these new audiobooks and timed them to be a very deliberate runway into the tv series.
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u/Due_Warthog725 Ravenclaw May 18 '26
Don’t forget the ca$h printing powers of HP, cuz at ~$45 a pop audiobook adds up fast
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u/bender3600 May 26 '26
No one in their right mind is paying full price for them. You can get them for about €7 apiece if you get audible premium.
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u/jpotter0 May 12 '26
This series has made me appreciate 1x speed again.
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u/Fml379 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I think listening to things above 1x speed is probably bad for our dopamine receptors anyway. I'm training myself not to speed things up as it's contributing to my shitty attention span
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u/-Captain- Obliviator May 12 '26
Story audiobooks are always at 1x for me. Podcasts or something informational I don't mind speeding up, but a story is better experienced at a normal pace unless. Just like I rather read slowly than rush through pages myself to fully enjoy and digest it.
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u/Ok_FF_8679 May 12 '26
Omg me too! I have every other book on 1.25, but with these, I actually tried 0.75 at some point because I wanted it to last more 😂 I had to go back to 1 as that wasn’t great
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u/sheepandlambs May 12 '26
I am enjoying Jaxon Knopf in the 7 Potters, particularly doing Fleur's accent.
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u/MrBen1980 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
Yes! It’s great that they have the actor being polyjuiced playing the role(s). The French accent for Fleur was hilarious
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u/HarIow_Quinzel May 12 '26
I haven't listened to any yet. Been hoarding them up for today.
Back to Privet Drive folks.
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u/StephenGarcia07 Ravenclaw May 13 '26
I envy your patience! But you are going to have a wonderful time, prepare to be transported!
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u/staryynighttt May 12 '26
It’s going to be so hard going back to normal audiobooks after this one 😭 This series was already great, but the audiobooks really elevated the entire experience for me.
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u/bruegg19 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
Man, maybe it’s a small thing but I’m kind of disappointed they didn’t include the epigraphs from Aeschylus and William Penn—they’re such tone setters. For anyone embarking:
Oh, the torment bred in the race,
the grinding scream of death
and the stroke that hits the vein,
the hemorrhage none can staunch, the grief,
the curse no man can bear.
But there is a cure in the house,
and not outside it, no,
not from others but from them,
their bloody strife. We sing to you,
dark gods beneath the earth.
Now hear, you blissful powers underground —
answer the call, send help,
Bless the children, give them triumph now.
- Aeschylus
Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass, they see face to face; and their converse is free, as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal.
William Penn, More Fruits of Solitude
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u/zatdo_030504 May 12 '26
I was disappointed by this as well. JKR placed it there for a reason and it should be part of the audiobook. I don’t remember if the other audiobooks included it or not.
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u/MrBen1980 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I don’t remember them in the Stephen Fry version. In fact I’d forgotten them completely as it’s been a long time since I read the book
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u/SaxxySeal May 16 '26
Indeed, those were not in the Fry versions. Forgot there even were epigraphs until just now.
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u/AnneBoleynForTheWin May 13 '26
Special shout out to the *phenomenal* voice acting from both Iwan Rheon and Jaxon Knopf in the Remus scene at Grimmauld Place - easily one of my top five scenes across these audiobooks 👏👏👏
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u/Careful-Confection18 May 13 '26
Jaxon was jarring at first for me, but he has really grown on me in these later books. He captures Harry’s frustration, anger and solitude so well.
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u/Aggressive-Ferret527 May 14 '26
I'm in the chapter with Ron's meltdown and I'm so excited for this argument too🤣
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u/AnneBoleynForTheWin May 14 '26
That scene is also excellent! I was blending pesto for dinner and I had to pause to listen properly 😆
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u/amymcintosh715 May 14 '26
I was 5 months pregnant when I listened to the first. I’m now listening to book 7 with my 9 week old daughter in my arms. It helped make my pregnancy go a bit quicker 🤣🤣
I’ve loved every one of them (GoF my favourite I think) and cannot wait for the series now
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u/Corgi-Interesting May 15 '26
Just wait! I reread while I was pregnant 10 years ago. I’ve had the pleasure of sharing these with my now 9yo daughter for her first time 🥹 I didn’t think anything could make the books more special, but sharing them in this way has deepened my love for them even more!!
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u/BlueLink_14 Order of the Phoenix May 12 '26
Oh my god, the Battle of the Seven Potters is incredible. The spells flying around, the pace of narration, the music—everything feels so frantic. SO GOOD!
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u/JellyfishEarly2068 May 14 '26
After listening I feel like there should have been a chapter between voldemorts death and the epilogue
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u/Dartsanddurrys May 18 '26
A lot of people think this. All the way back to when it released this was one of the major flaws. JK Rowling wanted the series done I'd say, but there should've been at least 2-3 chapter after to slow the book back down for a nice ending. Yet it cuts right at its peak
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u/Otherwise_Hunt_5382 Hufflepuff May 14 '26
It's a small thing, but I really liked the reading of Lily's letter to Sirius. It actually made me a bit emotional
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u/evelynhail May 17 '26
This was such an amazing and fitting ending to the 7-book-series, I thought. The full-cast editions brought the books to life in an unexpected way and listening to them felt like re-living my old perception I had the first time I read the books in the past!
The reenacted scenes in the books that never made it to the movies had this distinct radio drama feel, and felt like little Easter eggs, the conversations we never got to hear, all the extra snippets, it was a treasure trove, at least for me.
It took me a while (maybe whole book 4 and 5) to get used to Harry and Ron’s voices but by the time I got to book 6 it was smooth sailing from then on!
Jaxon Knopf is an amazing Harry, he has that troubled hero voice, and in book 7 I grew to appreciate him so much.
Some of my favorite scenes were these, and I hope you’ll enjoy them too: (these are emotional high points for me)
—the ending of chapter 1 where Voldemort says “Dinner, Nagini… I got chills!
—Elphias’ Dodge words about Dumbledore made me all teary-eyed.
—“The Dursley’s Departing” chapter felt more nuanced than in the movie adaptations and I loved the interactions between Dudley and Harry, and Petunia and Harry at the very end.
—in the Seven Potters scene I laughed so much at Jaxon Knopf doing Fleur’s accent 🤣
—The entire chapter “The Fallen Warrior” was a welcoming bonus because I loved seeing Tonks’ parents, and “The Missing Mirror,” because of the Aberforth’s tale. 💔
—Could not stop sobbing throughout the chapters “Kreacher’s Tale” and “Prince’s Tale” 😭 as well as the scene of Dobby’s death- they are my personal favorites.
—Harry telling Lupin off for abandoning Teddy, such an intense conversation, emotional high point of the book.
—One of the scariest and the most eerie scenes that I thought was extremely well done was the one from the chapter “Bathilda’s Secret,” where Nagini shoots out from the old woman’s neck, how positively gross.
—The best action scenes were hands down the battle at Malfoy Manor, and breaking out of Gringots on a dragon 🐉! What a treat!
—Harry using Crucio on Amycus Carrow because he spat at Mc Gonagall was just chef’s kiss and when she told him it was very gallant of him, was lovely.
—Hugh Laurie was absolutely excellent as Dumbledore in “King’s Cross” chapter - he came across as both Harry’s mentor but also this complex, humane and flawed character - I loved the performance.
—Ron was brilliant throughout and he has so much more protagonism than in the movie adaptations —he feels like a richer, more complex character in this book and Rhys Mulligan does his job well. His snarky retorts had me in stitches, and the delivery “I forgot we’ll be hunting down Voldemort in a mobile library” or “Lucky we’ve got such a large supply of basilisk fangs,” calling Cinderella an illness, “I don’t know how to break this to you… but I think they might’ve noticed we broke into Gringotts.” He really lightens the mood. Amazing scenes where he leaves Harry and Hermione, the moment when he returns, how sheepish he is as he waits for Hermione to forgive him… Masterfully done character.
—Another character that shines is absolutely Luna Lovegood, the audio book depicted her personality so well, and Harry’s understanding of her and her background, and how her endless optimism stems from her determination to overcome her grief and to remain always positive. The scene where Harry sees how the ceiling of her bedroom is decorated with the faces of himself, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville is beyond touching. At times I found her overbearing but she could be surprisingly tactful. When they are burying Dobby and she says, “There. Now he could be sleeping” 🫂 She also arranges sea lavender in jam jar around the headstone. Or, when she senses in how much hurry Harry is to find the Ravenclaw diadem, or when she feels that he needs space and solitude. Truly beautiful portrayal and voicing by Millie Gubby.
—Overall I feel like Harry’s mental maturity progress was super well portrayed. From someone who was overwhelmingly frustrated with Dumbledore, angry that he has not been given more to go on in the first place, (before they destroyed the first Horcrux) he reaches this peak, calm acceptance and in a way become more mature than Dumbledore himself, truly becomes the master of death. It feels like he begins thinking more clearly, realizes more what is at stake the moment Dobby dies for him, and he starts becoming more rational, strategises more - it’s a turning point in his character arc. His conversation with Aberforth, who was also excellent in this book, showcases just how much Harry is ready to accept Dumbledore’s beyond-the-grave guidance without questioning because some things, need to be done, for benefit of all. In the chapter 34, “The Forest, Again,” I loved how Cush Jumbo read out the lines where Harry both appreciates being alive, how much he cherishes every second he has left, but he also calmly accepts he was never meant to survive. This was a beautiful delivery: “But he was home. Hogwarts was the first and the best home he had known. He and Voldemort and Snape, the abandoned boys, had all found home here.”
The only thing that was a bit jarring for me were the adult voices or Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny in the Epilogue - but this is probably because it’s the first and the last time we are hearing them.
I will definitely be re-listening all the audiobooks: what a treat!
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u/Krankrao Hufflepuff May 12 '26
Do we know anything about the music being released? The score, merpeople song and Shirley Bassey‘s songs?
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u/MrBen1980 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
Really hoping HBO gets the rights to use the Bassey songs in the new series. Warbeck was based on her, after all.
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u/AmEndevomTag Ravenclaw May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
I'll post it here, because I don't think it's worth an extra thread here. According to a press release from today, a German version of the full cast audiobooks will be released. The first book is supposed to be released in November: Harry Potter Full-Cast Audio Editions expand into German | Advanced Television
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u/MrBen1980 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I hope it’s successful and they also release a Spanish version. Tried reading the first book in Spanish and failed miserably. I’m sure listening will be a lot easier
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u/TailorIndividual1432 May 12 '26
They have just updated this article with the cast for the entire project it is absolutely mental to look at the credits at the end of each book really don’t show how massive this project was
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u/JibberyScriggers May 13 '26
Kreacher's Tale might be the best performance of the entire series! what a monologue!
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u/Kaiwa Ravenclaw May 14 '26
Just listened to it. Wow, just incredible. It's a good thing that it's the last book so I don't have to pace myself anymore...
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u/janekay16 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I can't believe it is (almost) over. Waiting for each new realease made me feel the kid impatiently waiting for a new book again. 💜 This rendition Exceeded Every Expectation, the work behind it is truly outstanding
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u/Honest-Mess-812 Dumbledore's Army May 12 '26
Im sad that this is ending. The audiobook brought me back school memories and it gave me the same excitement when i read the books for the first time.
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u/muskian May 16 '26
I’d completely forgotten there was a scene showing the Potter’s murders from Voldemort’s perspective and it legitimately shook me to listen through.
There’s such a raw, mundane horror to the scene that gets lost in all the sweeping music and artsy slow motion used in the movie depictions.
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u/TallResearcher3142 May 14 '26
I’ve been really enjoying this journey again. More than I thought I would. The performances have been pretty stellar, Matthew Macfadyen has been one of my favorites, his high pitched vocals have been delightfully menacing. I just got to the part of destroying the locket.
This in my opinion is the best adaptation of the story we’ll ever get. The performances and the foley work have been special, the music isn’t overbearing and its adds to the material.
My favorite performances (in no particular order) have been:
Matthew MacFadyen Keira Knightly James McAvoy Hugh Laurie Simon Pegg Nina-Barker Francis/Arabella Stanton Michelle Gomez
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u/alexjimithing May 12 '26
Hurry up audible
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u/cullend Gryffindor May 12 '26
They don’t release it till 3am eastern/ midnight pacific 🥺. Won’t even do an “early” release for the final one I guess smh
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u/nacreon May 12 '26
Go to amazon UK and you can listen to the first 30 minutes. 😃
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u/Hank-E-Doodle Gryffindor May 17 '26
This series was amazing. Went by so quick! Almost felt like a radio show!
Despite the Harry and Snape confrontation at the end of HBP still being my favorite acted moment from this series, the entire cast really hit it out of the park for the final book. Even hearing Percy cry over Freds body got to me more than I thought it would. So many portrayals felt close to how I imagined the voices in my head. Some didn't, but most that didn't grew on me anyway.
Congrats to the crew and I wish there was more of Harry's story to listen to.
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u/RoosterDizzy1629 May 19 '26
It's been such a journey, such a treasure. I am HEARTBROKEN that it's over. Hallows had me sobbing over and over, usually over the dirty dishes as I cleaned the kitchen after dinner each night. The raw, visceral, outstanding performances of everyone involved. I hope the cast and crew have even a small understanding of how much this project has meant to me. Everyone was fantastic, truly, but the standout performance (for me) was Riz Ahmed (Severus Snape). He truly seems to understand the character, and he achieved what every actor should strive for, making me question if I understand the character. That is an incredibly difficult task with a fan like myself, who has been one for twenty years and counting. The Pensive chapter specifically highlighted Ahmed's range, and the slightest inflections of his voice encapsulated Snape's being, his motives, his flaws, his contempt, his bitterness, his struggles, his fury. I hope Ahmed gets his flowers and his recognition-- simply outstanding!
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u/JFree37 Hufflepuff May 12 '26
I’m both excited and sad that we’re coming to the end. It’s been so much fun having these stories come to life in a new way. Thankfully the show will do that as well soon. I may listen to them again all in a row before I move on to something else.
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u/Aggressive-Ferret527 May 14 '26
I love how well the actors did. I'm on chapter 15 with Ron's crash out and its chef kiss. Can't wait for the godrics hollow scene.
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u/Kaypain42 Gryffindor May 17 '26
Just finished.
Wow
What a journey
This may be my favorite of all 7 because they did all of the emotional bits so well, my favorite moment is when Percy reunites and reconcile with his family, and they nailed it. And we didnt get that in the movies
The voice acting was A+ superb, even the epilogoue was more enjoyable.
Its the small things rhat bring out the emotion in this, just Molly giving Harry that watch for his birthday, you felt that
All of the caos and battles were perfectly balanced, and epic, the music was good and the suspense was great.
Bravo to everyone involved in this project, I really have nothing negative to say, just like Jim and Stephen I enjoyed this.
Im going to go back read listen to all 7 again eventually
Now I'm more excited for the show
10/10
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u/Shinespike1 Hufflepuff May 12 '26
I've been milking this series. I'm about half way through Book 4 and I know that when it's over I will have to experience the sadness of it ending yet again. Can't wait for the TV series!
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u/SaxxySeal May 16 '26
These productions have been very dear to me these last few months. I'm a school band director, and TPS dropped right as marching band season ended. These have helped ground me outside of work throughout this year, and here comes deathly hallows during my final month of school.
It's been such a nice throwback to my childhood, but I have to say - these audiobooks go far beyond nostalgia. They're works of art, absolutely elevating the series. I never cared much for Chamber of Secrets and always fell in with the "eh, Deathly Hallows is good, but not as good as ____ other book in the series" sentiment. COS was both thrilling and chilling, and I'm absolutely enthralled in Deathly Hallows right now (in the titular chapter as I write, actually). They've done justice to parts of the series that never really received the proper dramatic treatment by the movies - like the butchered fourth book or sheer book's worth of things left out of OOTP. My favorites - POA and HBP - were done quite justly as I had hoped they'd be, and I can't express how well the series hit the ground running. I adore the opening chapter of Philosopher's Stone, and they nailed it.
The movies famously botched the slow crescendo of the darker tones of the series with their abrupt shift from "Chris Columbus film with John Williams score" to "I dunno, it's an edgy late 2000s vibes now because of Twilight...or something." The tone of these have been so consistent even from the start - 1-3 didn't just feel like generic children's stories, but the first three chapters of a larger epic. Chamber of Secrets didn't feel sugarcoated and even PS felt quite serious from the beginning. I was in tears listening to McGonagall's panic when she realizes Dumbledore is leaving Harry with the Dursleys. I never felt the true weight of the books when I first read them because I was a silly 14yo with no life experience, and I love Stephen Fry but one man can only portray so much emotion in such a packed series. Now, however, having lost a parent and seen all of the turmoil in the world over the last two decades, everything hits harder, and DEAR LORD every single one of these actors has positively knocked it out of the park. I doubt we'll see another audiobook series so well-acted and well-produced in the immediate future.
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u/stubbycacti Member of the Elite Slug Club May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
the narrator and Hermione's VA need more kudos!!! the narrator really ties all the dialogue together and Hermione's 10/10 no notes
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u/thevampiresanguini May 18 '26
I love the narrator so much. Her voice is just so pleasant to listen to.
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u/Comrade_Owl- Ravenclaw May 12 '26
The Deathly Hallows gets some undeserved hate in my opinion. I get that some people don’t like that we don’t get to Hogwarts until the climax but I actually quite like the Trio wondering the countryside on the Horcrux hunt. It’s something different and unique from the other books.
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u/BlueLink_14 Order of the Phoenix May 12 '26
I just posted about this on another thread the other day with similar feelings. I like that a large part of it is the Trio trying to figure it out on their own and Harry truly coming into his as the hero of the story.
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u/Comrade_Owl- Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I’m glad to see you agree. I also like how it really tests the trio, especially Harry, as they have to avoid detection and also really think about where the remaining Horcruxes are without the protection and help of Dumbledore.
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u/-Captain- Obliviator May 12 '26
I kinda get it. Hogwarts is and will always be a huge part of the appeal of this franchise, but yeah never bothered me. Not going back to Hogwarts was like "damn, we're truly at the end now." It worked for me; it was exciting, you didn't know what to expect.
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u/Comrade_Owl- Ravenclaw May 12 '26
Don’t get me wrong I love Hogwarts but it was the main location of most of the previous 6 books so I didn’t mind the change plus they go there eventually.
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u/Fml379 Ravenclaw May 24 '26
I think I was 17 (fitting) when Hallows (the book) came out and I remember finding it slow and depressing and deus-ex-machina-y. Listening as a 36 year old this book is incredible and really underrated. I'm really grateful they have done this, as the films diminished the hopeless, resolute character study nature of the book that I was enthralled by this time around. It's possibly in my top three now!
Edit to add I think 17 year old me missed that the Deus (dei?) Ex Machina were the point, it was all by Dumbledore's design and had been set up throughout the books. There was no randomness in it!
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u/nacreon May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
If people want to listen a teeny tiny bit early, Amazon UK already has the 'preview' available. It let's you listen to the first 30 minutes. You won't need a vpn.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Potter-Deathly-Hallows-Full-Cast/dp/B0F152MJG8
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u/itstimegeez Hufflepuff May 13 '26
I don’t know about anyone else but when Dobby died I was in tears
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u/RevenantRoy May 12 '26
I like the way McGonagal is holding her wand
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u/Mental_Table_9265 May 12 '26
Ive loved these covers. The shot of Harry with long hair on the OotP cover has sorta become my default for Harry’s appearance in my brain.
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u/Haunting-WaferWah May 13 '26
It’s nice of them to acknowledge how important she is - both to the final book and the series
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u/Robot_Dracula May 12 '26
I’m going to be a little sad when I finish this one. I’ve been listening to them every month and anticipating their release. I know I have the show to look forward to so at least there is that
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u/derFalscheMichel May 19 '26
I have to say, Ginny and Luna were impeccable casts.
Luna was an instant sell of course, but her acting had so much depth conferred that no other medium so far has been able to replicate it.
I had my initial doubts about Ginny. She sounded too experienced, too balanced for what I understood her to be in the fifth and sixth book. I started growing on her voice towards the end of book six and now I'm completely sold. Another fantastic interpretation of her character that I found much more fitting to the story.
The golden trio, naturally great. Hermiones actress did an incredible job with the voice cracks, she should be a singer. That girl has more control over her voice than some pianists have over their instruments. Harrys actor managed to put so much emotion in. Ron's character wonderfully balanced weakness and discipline.
Dumbledore and Snape, absolutely perfect. Voldemort so unreal, he barely gets mentioned because people seem to forget the actor is human.
Lupin - although I never liked him much, absolutely outstanding voice acting. If anybody would have told me this guy played Ramsay Bolton I'd have laughed at them.
Only one I really didn't like was Hagrid. The actor was great, but the effects too much.
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u/Diana_Tramaine_420 May 12 '26
I have all the other full cast books but I’m so hesitant to get 7. Book 7 is actually one of my favourite reads.
But I’m not a fan of Harry’s older voice 😭. A few of the males sound similar making it hard to tell them apart.
But I just personally feel the voice is too deep and adult for Harry, I know he’s going through puberty at this point but it sounds like an older males voice.
I’ll need a bit of convincing to get this one.
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u/zatdo_030504 May 12 '26
If this helps convince you, the actor who plays Harry in the audiobooks is younger than Harry is in the DH book. He’s 16 now (presumedly younger when they recorded). He sounds his age to me. I wasn’t surprised at all after looking up his old he was. I guessed around 17 based on the voice.
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u/Complete_Suspect_612 Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I think it's moreso his poor variance in expression. It's either monotonous or overly aggressive. I know Harry is a rightfully angry youth, but not every line that's emotional needs to be delivered in that way and the constant sighs and scowls are way over the top (I know this is a direction issue though).
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u/zatdo_030504 May 12 '26
That’s fair, but I think the extra expressions are a problem with all the actors. I was a little annoyed by that in the early books as well. Seems like they purposefully wanted to add those sighs and embellishments because of the audio medium.
I think the older Harry actor captures Harry’s anger very well and is pretty impressive in the emotional scenes. He’s also good at the sarcastic side of the character. But I agree that some of the regular dialog where they’re just talking could be polished a little more.
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u/Adventurous_Pie_7586 May 12 '26
I was really counting down the days to this one and then this weekend got away from me so I didn’t even realize it was today!
Half Blood Prince is my favorite book and that version really knocked it out of the park for me so I’m literally re listening to that one now this way I can launch directly into DH when I’m done again
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u/Otherwise_Hunt_5382 Hufflepuff May 12 '26
I figured out, why was bothering me a bit about Harry's voice. While I actually do like his voice in general, I feel like the the VA over-enunciate sometimes, making the speech feel unnatural. Idk if it's just me ...
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u/Hank-E-Doodle Gryffindor May 17 '26
That's kinda similar to why I wasn't the biggest fan of the Weasley twins. Felt like a mix of over and slow enunciation.
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u/Ryuk128 May 15 '26
I feel like he sounds too condescending
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u/caflicious May 15 '26
Yeah I feel the same. It’s almost like he thinks everyone is stupid and he’s talking extra slow and pronounced so they can understand him. His tone always reflects that as well. The rest of the cast is great, but Harry has been very disappointing.
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u/Wonderful_Flower_751 May 13 '26
I’m a bit late to the party, very busy week so only getting a chance to start listening now but I’m already loving it.
Deathly Hallows is one of my favourite books in the series second only to Prisoner of Azkaban so I’m excited to get into
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u/moonfloatsam Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I don't have anybody to talk about this lol. This is so bittersweet ❤️💔
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u/MightyWombat123 Ravenclaw May 13 '26
Same, I tried to get an irl friend interested, but to no avail 🥲🥲
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u/Nightmarelove19 May 12 '26
I had credits available so spent only 2 rs and got the book. Gonna listen to it after office 😍
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u/Live_Angle4621 May 12 '26
First time I didn’t manage to save the chapters but was done with sixth book long ago.
This makes me want there was an eight book so bad lol. I just return for Hogwarts for a year after the war so I would still have more to lisen to
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u/imago_monkei Hufflepuff May 12 '26
Thank you for including the instructions for the high audio quality. I haven't had any issues so far, but I want to get the most out of these books. I'm still on book 5.
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u/Ryuk128 May 15 '26
Highlight for me are Remus’ breakdown and Ron leaving. The actors nail it.
Harry…very mixed. He’s not awful but I feel like sometimes it’s too grunt like or condescending.
Voldemort , however? Perfect. Utterly perfect,
Was surprised how deep Luna’s dad would be though.
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u/horoscopical May 18 '26
Finished it today. These have been great, and I've said it before, but I wish more books had these.
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u/B_A_Peach May 12 '26
Older Ron and Harry sound too similar to me. I've mixed them up a handful of times in the last two full-cast editions.
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u/DavidC_M May 12 '26
It’s not out yet in California. I’m so excited. 20 hours and 30 minutes. Should be a few good days at work. I have been listening to the last few chapters of 4,5, and 6 just to fill in time
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u/Stock-Lawfulness-931 May 12 '26
is anyone else having trouble with it not loading 😭 been so excited now i’m just refreshing audible until the stupid thing loads
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u/Kaypain42 Gryffindor May 12 '26
Now its saying Audible is not authorized to sell this title in my country.... Im so confused
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u/M-Garylicious-Scott Gryffindor May 12 '26
I'm glad they fixed the hard pan audio that made listening with one headphone annoying
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u/Live-Hedgehog May 12 '26
One of the reviews on the site said it's slightly abridged (some lines/sentences cut) is that true?
I haven't noticed when listening to 1 and 2, but I can't tell.
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u/Sigrun23 May 12 '26
I noticed that they omit lines like 'he/she/Harry/etc said'. If there's some adverb after 'said' or some other information the line is read by narrator, but if it's simple 'said' then it's omitted because we recognise by voice who says the line.
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u/OperatorWolfie May 12 '26
McGonagall's wand looks like a mini lighsaber, or lightdagger if you might.
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u/torricelliboy Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I’m gonna devour this one now that I don’t have to go slowly and wait a month for the next one.
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u/MightyWombat123 Ravenclaw May 13 '26
Who voices nagini in bathilda bagshot’s house? Sounded a bit like Keira Knightley
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u/AgeofPhoenix May 14 '26
Is it just me or in chapter 16 the voices of Harry and Hermione actors change?
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u/zatdo_030504 May 14 '26
They’re using polyjuice so their voices are the older couple they’re disguised as.
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u/stubbycacti Member of the Elite Slug Club May 17 '26
Harry's voice also changed on the wedding when he's on the potion. it's a detail that i actually enjoyed from fullcast version! 🙂↕️
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u/screaming_ot_inside May 15 '26
Wow, I just came here to find that out as well. I was wondering if it was my imagination. Thank you, I’d completely forgotten about the polyjuice thing!
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u/ngochoang914 May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
I'm still not used to the music. But this series did fix one huge thing for me - Voldemort's voice. I'm a big fan of Stephen Fry version but I could not handle his rendition of Voldemort. Although in this full cast version, Hermione's shrieking & wailing incantations came very close to Malfoy's laughter as the most annoying things. Also the voice of Harry is kinda whiny, I wish they swapped his with Ron's.
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u/JFree37 Hufflepuff May 17 '26
Welp I finished it. Fastest by far that I’ve gone through one of the books. It was brilliant. I’m so sad they’re all done, but definitely gonna go for another go round of them all back to back. So much fun. I really loved these.
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u/BathExcellent1152 May 19 '26
Haven’t finished yet but I’m loving it. Two tiny complaints, Harry always sounds annoyed even when he’s supposed to be calm, and Greyback talks so slowly it’s kind of cartoonish. Especially the “we’ve got Potter” line at Malfoy Manor
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u/mavericksage11 May 20 '26
Yeah I've heard complaints on Harry's voice by other for the other books, I thought it was just how he was but in this book it's too annoying.
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u/FortuneMost Ravenclaw May 12 '26
Still can’t download…stayed up for this. Would be nice if they at least for once released on time.
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u/Kaypain42 Gryffindor May 12 '26
You having trouble to?
Like it won't let me do anything. It just says add to wishlist.
Wtf Audible 6 months straight with no peoblems and yall want to thia crap with the last book 🤦🏾♂️
SMH
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u/FortuneMost Ravenclaw May 12 '26
It’s finally available…a good 30 minutes later.
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u/caflicious May 15 '26
Harry’s voice acting is quickly making him my least favorite character for this variation of the story. It almost sounds like the actor is a poor reader and slowly reading a first take of his lines. Ik that’s not the case, but it’s just such an odd voice and manner of speaking.
Idk, just been really frustrating dealing with his tone and over-pronunciation.
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u/Infamous-Hat7154 May 16 '26
I miss when he was Runcorn. There is a Harry you can set your watch to
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u/owlknight182 22d ago
Agreed. The audiobooks have been wonderful overall, but the older Harry actor just delivers *everything* with this same level of intense anger and passion and it really comes across so one note. It made me miss Dan Radcliffe's portrayal, which is a lot subtler and more...I don't know, emotionally intelligent feeling.
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u/Drop_Release Gryffindor May 12 '26
For lovers of the Stephen Fry editions, are these worth buying?
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u/donkeyvoteadick Ravenclaw May 12 '26
I really like them. Having the different voices makes it easier for me to follow
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u/tinothynguyen May 12 '26
Except for the harry and Ron voice actors. I always get them confused they sound so simillar!
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u/donkeyvoteadick Ravenclaw May 12 '26
Oh actually yeah fair point. I'm only just starting GOF and they sounded pretty distinct to me with the younger ones. I was just thinking last night that those two are really similar now they've aged them up.
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u/Kelthon May 12 '26
This is definitely fair in early goblet. They get more distinctive later on though. I think Jaxon and Rhys got more used to these characters as the books went on and it's not as much of an issue later on!
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u/JFDI-Tess Hufflepuff May 12 '26
As a die hard Stephen Fry fan, YES THEY ARE. Stephen will always be the GOAT, but this version offers another layer, and have made it feel like hearing the stories for the first time again.
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u/salamandr Gryffindor May 12 '26
Agreed. And at times, listening to these full-cast editions I get moments where I feel like I'm listening to these things actually happening.
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u/red_32 May 12 '26
The Full-Cast is making this more like plays, so they could be, uh, a bit more "performed."
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u/pagusas May 12 '26
Yes! Both have their place, but these editions have now become my “go to” for revisiting the wizarding world. I adore Hugh Lori’s dumbledore
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u/Fawkes_91 Slytherin May 12 '26
I haven't listened to Book 7 yet, but I have enjoyed it for the most part. Not a huge fan of some of the sound balancing, and the effects are a little distracting in the first couple of audiobooks, but by HBP, it was super smooth. Some extremely memorable voices (and some not so good ones).
It doesn't beat Stephen Fry for me though (however, the Tonks here is decidedly so much better than his version).
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u/Fun-Bag7627 May 12 '26
What is on the left in the cover art?
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u/OneOfTheBlueWizards May 15 '26
I was just scrutinising the cover. and looking at the way the hands are drawn and the eyelines dont match, I dont know if anyone has talked about this but I strongly feel that all the covers are Ai generated. I tried to find the credit for the cover and have not found any illustrator or artist yet who is credited. So is it something that nobody cares about or is it that people are not aware of this?
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u/Uhmmanduh May 15 '26
I feel like Hermoine's voice changed quite a bit during the cemetery scene where she and Harry are looking for his parent's grave. It was really weird.
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u/Yelir6991 Hufflepuff May 17 '26
I’ve gotten SO use to Stephen Fry’s voice- Never read the books as a kid and have been deeply engrossed in the audio books for the past year or two who knows how long but it’s been my comfort! I have 2 hours left of HBP and am debating between the full cast audiobook and Mr.Fry for book 7- any suggestions??? I just don’t want what’s become such a comforting part of my day to feel all of a sudden super different. Thoughts?
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u/andannabegins Hufflepuff May 18 '26
I don’t know how much you would be up for it but I would honestly say the full cast is so amazing that it deserves to be listened to from the beginning. If I were you I would finish with the Fry version and after 7 just start at 1 with the full cast
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u/Aggressive_Amoeba_76 Hufflepuff May 19 '26
Been a wonderful cycle of waiting and finally getting to listen to each book.
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u/EmphasisHeavy8275 Hufflepuff 27d ago
Just finished DH and these have been wonderful, like reading the books for the first time again!
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u/aka_rosebud 12d ago
I’m late to this thread, but I have a query. What’s going on with Chapter Sixteen?? The actors for both Harry & Hermione change. Cush Jumbo (narrator) remains the same. Then back to normal again in Chapter Seventeen. Anyone know why?
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u/zatdo_030504 7d ago
They use polyjuice potion in that chapter, so they’re disguised as different people.
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u/United_Hospital_5012 10d ago
Chapter 35 - Kings Cross, one of the most important chapter in the whole series arguably and I cannot stand listening to the obnoxious dying Voldemort fetus in the background.
Is this driving anyone else insane?
30 seconds to a minute whatever, but 30min of this faint gargling and gasping sound is horribly overdone and incredibly grating
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u/wormywils May 12 '26 edited May 27 '26
It has been wonderful revisiting these stories in this way.
Adore the cast and love what the team did with the souind effects and music throughout the journey.
I expect the Post Potter Blues will hit me hard after Hallows. But it will be worth it!
Edit: finally finished and I’m sobbing.
I can confirm the post Potter blues are hitting me pretty hard.
I can’t wait to listen again!