‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ by J.K. Rowling is a fitting and distinctive third novel in the ‘Harry Potter’ series of books. Not only is the wizarding world populated with even more successfully crafted characters, but the storyline finds itself getting trickier, with more twists and turns coming into play.

Beyond wondering whether or not Snape is good or bad as this novel progresses, everyone is scared and tremendously cautious about how they feel about Sirius Black, the escaped Azkaban prisoner. Everyone, worried for Harry’s well-being, treats him with kid gloves, which irritates him to no end, despite the fact that he is a kid. Yet, along with Ron and Hermione, as per usual, he learns more than he bargained for, in that Black is closer to him than he ever thought possible, and his parents (most especially his father) played a role in Black’s life early on.

Also entering the mix of characters in this addition to the series if Remus Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The students all believe (well, all except the Slytherin students) that he is the best professor they have had in that position since they began school at Hogwarts. Yet, Snape, who has been eyeing that job for years and never getting it, is especially irked and seemingly villainous as the school year goes on.

The third year students are also taking a new class – Divination – taught by Professor Trelawney. The act of prophesizing is not something many of the students, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione, are keen on. Professor Trelawney seems very “out there,” but some of her predictions seem to be coming true, and it sometimes seems a little worrisome to just chalk it up to coincidence.

In this third book in the series, Rowling has captivated her audience anew. I look forward to continuing to re-read the remainder of the novels, starting with the next one – ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’

You can find ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ by J.K. Rowling here.