On a par with the previous book, although as most of Hogwarts and the wizarding world has been explained there’s more action and less exposition. Gilderoy Lockhart is amusing (and superbly cast in the film), though one wonders how he got a job at Hogwarts as I cannot imagine Dumbledore failing to see through his charade (there’s background information elsewhere about this, but not in the book).

The only downside is that Hermione is out of action for a chunk of the book. Fortunately Ron and Harry are coming into their own, because if this had happened earlier they would probably be lost without her.