This used to be my least favorite of the series when I was younger, because the first part of the book just kind of didn't do it for me. After having gone back and read the series, oh I don't know... nine or ten more times, I realize that this book is so special just for that very portion of the book. This is where I started to recognize just how much thought and detail J.K. put into this world. She was able to introduce an entire planet full of magical people in just a few chapters. It's absolutely incredible.