I'll have to rate this 8 out of 10. The new additional characters are alot of fun specially Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart. The Quidditch game is awesome too, Harry's match with Draco is one of my favorites. The story also begins to evolve as the book has a darker side now. Much more action that the first book. One outstanding character for me in thi sbook is Ginny Weasley. Now the friendship starts to embraced the characters tighty.