But before he can be worked to death, he meets a being who has appeared in real slave histories, and who gives the book a magical turn.

NPR: Walter Mosley: A Slave's Flight to Freedom in '47'

The biggest risk, indeed, is not of too much hype, but that the latest Potter book will lack the magical appeal of its predecessors.

ECONOMIST: Harry Potter and the publishing goldmine

It also includes a map of the fantasy land of Narnia (a feature creators say was one of the most requested by fans), a blueprint of the magical sailing ship the "Dawn Treader" and a guide to the creatures and people in the book.

CNN: Narnia's 'Dawn Treader' sails enhanced e-book wave

Fans of the seven-book series chronicling a young wizard's coming-of-age in a fantastic and dangerous, magical world have a lot of emotion invested in the franchise.

CNN: Harry Potter and the morning after