** spoiler alert ** 
 Before I start this review, can I just say that Cornelius Fudge really reminded me of Vizzini in The Princess Bride in the end. I don't know why. 
 Anyways! I reeeeally enjoyed this book even though it isn't my favorite in the series so far. I feel like if I read it quicker I would love it more, but as it is, I still loved it and everything was fantastic: the plot was furthered in so many ways, the setting/world-building was so amazing, and basically everything else I've come to expect of J. K. Rowling. 
 I'd heard that something happened to Cedric reading a review of Prisoner of Azkaban, so it didn't affect me as much as it probably would have if I hadn't known something had happened, but it was still immensely sad. I almost cried when Dumbledore spoke at the last feast about him, but somehow I retained myself. Cedric was nothing but kind and noble and it's just so horrible. 
 Okay, so: task 1. I think this was the least exciting of all the tasks (probably since it was the first) but I still enjoyed it and I really related to Harry when he said the waiting is worse than the actual event. I feel like if I read the series before I was spoiled, it would have been more exciting, but it had me on the edge of my seat nonetheless. 
 Task 2. This is probably the most "Seriously?!" of the actual tasks (not what happened after them). I was so nervous that the hostages wouldn't survive and I was insanely nervous that Ron or Hermione would be the ones who didn't survive. I'd like to say I would've done what Harry did and stayed until he knew everyone was safe, but I really wouldn't have. I thought it was so brave of Harry to do that and it gave him Fleur as an ally, so that's great. I'm just really, really, really happy no one died. 
 (By the way, this review is less all over the place than my normal reviews, but trust me, I still had ALL THE FEELS.) 
 *deep breath* Task 3. Whoa. Okay. The actual task in itself seemed kind of mediocre, but when Krum tried to kill Cedric (even though it was Not-Professor-Moody that made him do it) I was like HOLD UP WHAT. I thought we were all friends here. That thought was revived a little when Cedric and Harry had that moment (it was really a scene, but WOW. I always hear about how Hufflepuffs are lame, but that's because they never allow themselves to get the glory.) I thought that scene was absolutely insane and I was on the edge of my figurative seat the whole time. 
 ....After Task 3. WHAT. WHAT. wHaT. I knew You-Know-Who had to be revived sometime, but I thought it would be closer to Deathly Hallows. I was so scared the whole time, but I calmed myself with "it's Harry Potter. Harry can't die. The whole series is named after him." The whole chapter was done SO fantastically and it's honestly one of the best pieces of writing I've ever read. I could imagine everything so perfectly (even if I didn't want to) and the atmosphere was so *enter jumbled letters*. The duel was so AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA and I felt like screaming. Every time Harry's scar hurt, I think I died a little inside. When all the ghost thingies came back, I was so !!!!!!!!!!!! When Cedric said to take his body to his parents, I think I lost all chill. (As I now have in this review.) 
 The chapter named "The Beginning" immediately made me think of "the beginning of the end". Is that where that came from? Because, even though I haven't read the rest of the series (yet) I feel like it's really fitting. 
 I can't believe the plot twists. THE PLOT TWISTS. When Moody isn't Moody, and Mr. Crouch is dead, and everything everything everything. Rita Skeeter (I hate her with every fiber of my being) is a beetle. Out of all things. A beetle. I feel like I was looking too closely to see the big picture, but I'm sure when I reread this, I'm going to see everything and hate myself for not seeing it. 
 Anything I wake up in the middle of the night thinking "I have to add that to my review!" will probably come soon. 
 Anyways. In hindsight, this might be my favorite Harry Potter book.