** spoiler alert ** 
 I can't say how much I've been enjoying reading this series. No, I mean I literally can't say it -- at least not out loud -- as there are a few people out there (luckily none who read my reviews as far as I am aware) who would probably have emotional breakdowns of some sort over the fact that I've recently gotten into this series. 
 Seriously, though, I've been having a BLAST; I love the characters, the story, the writing, and even the Mary Grandpre illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. It's just all been so much good old Fantasy fun! Especially since the third book which was -- and remains -- my favorite thus far. 
 I debated for a bit over whether I should give The Goblet of Fire five stars or four. On the one hand, I didn't like the plot/story of this nearly as much as the last book, BUT on the other I loved the new characters introduced and the developing characterization of the previously introduced/main characters. 
 In the end, I decided that in itself deserved the extra star. 
 First the new characters and what I thought: 
 I LOVED Fleur, Krum, and Cedric (I do realize Cedric was in the last book as well, but he didn't feature as much so we didn't really get to know too much about him) -- oh, and even Winky, annoying as she could be at times. 
 Fleur was a lot of fun and somehow I could just picture her so easily that reading her scenes just felt like an enjoyable cakewalk. Krum was, well, kind of adorable, I really liked him. And while I realize he and Hermione are not endgame or anything (I wouldn't really want them to be, but still think they are cute together) I enjoyed their interaction greatly. For some reason I found the bit where he couldn't pronounce her name all kinds of amusing. And Cedric, poor guy! I felt so bad for him, he was just so DARN LIKABLE. Maybe because I have a Hufflepuff mentality myself? I dunno. All I do know is I was so SAD when he kicked the bucket. I had what I like to refer to as a "not zippo!" moment when he died (basically a reference to a childhood viewing of the miniseries Dinotopia, during which I screamed out, "NOT ZIPPO!" when I thought Zippo the dinosaur was in mortal peril and about to be killed off); and no I didn't actually cry out loud at Cedric's death, but I did have an inward gasp of horror. On a lighter note, Winky was cute if a bit vexing, but I didn't like her nearly as much as Dobby. 
 Other characters: 
 I LOVED Hermione's character development the best of ANYONE in this book. There was just SO MUCH to her character in this one. Her trying to set the house elves free, her little romance with Krum, straightening her hair for the yule ball and having a much deserved "Yeah, I can be pretty, so shove it haters!" moment, it was just all delightful to read about. The only thing I didn't like, though I found it understandable because ANY girl in her place would have done it, was making her teeth smaller. She was probably just FINE the way she was, buck-toothed or otherwise, and people shouldn't have picked on her, but any fourteen year old girl with a chance to make her teeth a little smaller would have done so. I guess this scene just bothers me a bit, though, because I myself have stick-outty crooked teeth? I mean I'm not bucked toothed, but I do have crooked teeth and an overbite I never got fixed and I don't know how I personally feel about the book's message that she couldn't just grow up to be pretty WITH buckteeth, like she had to be magically transformed in order to do so. 
 I also enjoyed Ron and Harry's continuing friendship, and the realistic (and surprisingly long lasting) fight they had early on in the book after Harry's name came out of the goblet. 
 There was just such a richness to everyone and a believability to how everybody was growing up and changing that I really enjoyed. 
 There were however two characters whose characterization I wasn't 100% thrilled with/okay with in this volume. As well as one I was just not happy to see again because I hate her. 
 1) Snape. Going back to Hermione's buckteeth, I have to say the scene where Snape rudely remarks, "I see no difference" after her teeth are magically starting to grow bigger really UPSET ME. I realize Snape isn't meant to be likable, after all Harry dislikes him and we see much of the book through his limited fourteen year old eyes, ALL THE SAME, up till that point Snape struck me as the TYPICAL teacher-a-kid-wouldn't-like-as-a-kid... He's the professor who has no sympathy, who's very strict and doesn't listen to excuses, he might dole out unfair punishments and be a real pain in the rear-end, but he never struck me as ACTUALLY CRUEL until the comment about Hermione's teeth. That isn't WIT, it's borderline verbal/emotional abuse. A TEACHER CANNOT SAY THAT TO AN IMPRESSIONABLE FOURTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL -- does he want to scar her for life? I fully believe a mean teacher COULD be an ass and say something like that, I had teachers that mean in school, but somehow Snape's SORT/BRAND/TYPE/WHATEVER of meanness just wasn't suited to the line at all and it left a sour taste in my mouth. 
 2) The twins. Sigh. I LOVED Ron's brothers, the troublesome twins, in the first three books as well as the beginning of this one, but there were moments in this one where their barbs and pranks just seemed mean-spirited rather than playful and I didn't like that one bit. I truly hope that they will be back to their old selves by the next book and this development doesn't stick. If they themselves were fourteen like our main heroes in this, it wouldn't bother me so much but they're OLDER and shouldn't be such little ticks -- I prefer to see them as playful, not cruel. 
 3) Moaning Myrtle. Excuse me whilst I bash my head against the wall. Oh, MAN, do I dislike this annoying character. I really, really, really, really hate her. She's so petty and whiny and just UGH... And she came back. Why can't she just get flushed down the toilet and STAY THERE? 
 That said, I loved this book and can't wait to start the next! Recommended with caution, but still highly recommended.