"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." 
 *4.5 stars 
 Well, it's Harry Potter so it's still great, but I have to deduct 0.5 star because it resembles the first book so much. Harry spends a terrible summer with the Dursleys until he goes to Hogwarts- trouble ensues which he blames on the wrong person- he gets hurt during a Quidditch match- he pays a night time visit to the Forbidden Forest- and eventually everything ends in a secret chamber. We don't really get to know more about the characters or the magic world in general, since JK Rowling often repeats information we've already acquired in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, like how Quidditch is played or who Voldemort is. I understand the reasoning behind this; after all, time intervened between the publication of each book so some reminders were considered necessary, but now that we can binge read them they become quite tedious. 
 Also the Slytherin hate is strong in this one, and as a Slytherin myself I felt quite underwhelmed. It's quite obvious that Slytherins were originally meant to be the one-dimensional, traditional bad guys, although later Rowiling made them slightly more complicated and diverse. I mean, even the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws appear to prefer Gryffindor over Slytherin, although they don't have an apparent reason to do so. 
 But, apart from these minor complaints, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is as magical as every other Harry Potter book. Gilderoy Lockhart and the Deathday Party will never cease to amuse me, as well as, (view spoiler)[ Harry hearing strange voices and little Ginny being enchanted by Voldemort's memory will always creep me out (hide spoiler)]. I particularly love how obsessed Draco and Harry appear to be with each other, it's rather hilarious. Oh, how I wish Hogwarts was real; without the giant spiders and snakes of course!