So according to various sites across the intarweb, Harry Potter’s seventh adventure is named “The Deathly Hallows”. Well, with a ‘Harry Potter & the’ before it, of course. There’s a lot of rampant speculation going on now, about the use of the word Hallow, references to Arthurian legend (Hallows referring to the four aspects of life, tied into the Grail mythos - sword, spear, chalice and stone, if I remember correctly), uses of Hallow as the word for holy (hallow-ed), and of course discussion about noun and verbal usage of both words.

That said - I’m not overly fond of the title. There are reasons, indeed, why I find it somewhat tacky. And those reasons are tied up in the word ‘Deathly’. See… deathly, well… I hate adverbs. And although Deathly is acting as a verb for the noun ‘Hallows’ here - unless you’re tripping and think that Hallows is the verb, and that English is being altered for Jo’s own amusement - I am preconditioned to dislike the use of ‘ly’ words. Also, it’s a first in Harry Potter titles:

Philosopher’s StonernChamber of SecretsrnPrisoner of AzkabanrnGoblet of FirernOrder of the PhoenixrnHalf-Blood Princern… Deathly Hallows

It just sounds cheap and cheesy to me. Oh, I’ll buy and highly enjoy the book - probably May/June from the shape of it - but I am shuddering at the title now, and will probably still think it sounds stupid when I buy the story. If Jo wants a romanticised version of a Holy Cemetery for her title, then I’m sure there are better ways to write it then Deathly Hallows. Hell, even ‘Hallows of Death’ sounds better to me, but then she’s had enough ‘of’ titles in the past six books - 4/6 - to make me cheer that she’s not doing them as much. Still… something better, Jo, please.

rnAlcata’riel.

-Andiyar