Received the book in the mail today, and read it in one sitting, took about 6 hours. Well crafted, a couple of slow spots and very much darker than the first book. A lot of loose ends are tied up and there is a twist at the end.
Harry is definately finding out that adults are falible, too, and that he's going have to stand on his own two feet in this world. I won't tell the plot, as I'm sure many are still reading, but I must admit - I prefer the earlier books - they are more light-hearted, which is my preference. Given the way the series is going, I'm wondering just how dark the 7th book is going to be!
I would not recommend it for children under 10 unless they are mature for thier age. It is, IMHO, *Not* a child's series at all any more, and should not be sold as such. Much like Tolkien's books, the first were for children, the rest were not.