Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two

Enjoyable way to revisit our favorite characters!

No spoilers here but do keep in mind that this is the script for the play and not a J.K. Rowling narrative the way we are accustomed to reading. Adjust your expectations accordingly as I did find myself missing her descriptions of the world we all love so well. However, I was completely happy with how the story progressed and how the plot twists were revealed. That was in typical J.K. Rowling form. I was thrilled to catch up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione and enjoyed the perspectives of the new characters quite a bit as well. This is a must read if you read the series as fanatically as I did.

Phenomenally disappointing.
The disconnect between the original Harry Potter series and this drivel is astounding.
The magic of the wizarding world we have gotten accustomed to is cheapened and reduced to a series of lightly-magic-infused scenes with no depth. The characters are barely developed and, as a consequence, the relationships fail to be as deep as the authors would like.
It reads like an overview draft written by a well-versed twelve-year-old. This book was a mistake.
Hopefully the play is able to distract the audience from the lack of depth in this work.

this review is total lie this book sucks ass lol

4.5/5 stars “The world changes and we change with it. I am better off in this world. But the world is not better. And I don't want that.”

Close your eyes. Picture the date: July 12, 2015. Imagine me, a year younger and quite full of herself, watching the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone movie for the first time in 7 or 8 years. If you are actually following my instructions, you'd see me confused out of my mind, asking my brother questions about small things about Hogwarts (Where the hell are their math classes?), and then scoffing to my brother that I'd never read the Harry Potter books when he suggests the idea to me. Because, ever since I could remember, I had hated Harry Potter.

Then I slept on it, tried to answer those questions I so desperately wanted to know, and found myself the next morning downloading The Sorcerer's Stone onto my kindle. And my life was changed forever. Throughout the next 8 days, I find myself non-stop binge reading the series. Google searching Harry Potter fan theories. Texting my friend about Neville Longbottom. A year ago, things changed drastically for me, and I am so glad it did,not loving the boy wizard in my childhood. I had missed out on so much just because I didn't want to be mainstream.

Then a few months ago news started circulating. A new Harry Potter book was coming out. I began to prepare myself for that part of my childhood I missed. As the play started to run it's course, I avoided all spoilers like the plaque. The first opportunity I had to go grab my copy of the Cursed Child yesterday, I was speeding all the way to the store.

I was hesitant at first. I wasn't sure of the formatting, as it's a script, so it's told almost entirely by dialogue, but after a few pages you forget that there's anything different about it. You get sucked it to the characters and the story line as if it was formatted like a normal novel.

I don't know what I quite expected with The Cursed Child, but it was definitely not what I got. I'm torn on what to rate it. It was a very solid 4.5 stars for me, but should I round it up? Or down? Even as I type this review, I am still up in the air. I'll probably give it five, because it is Harry Potter after all, and I am Harry Potter trash.

So here's the things I loved.

Scorpius. He was by far the best character in the entire thing. He was such a refreshing take on a Slytherin. Before, Slytherin students were cookie-cut grumbling purebloods who just needed some love. Here, you get to see him be quirky and determined and I greatly appreciated that.

The Plot It was great to see the reappearance of magical items that had seemed long forgotten, and the way that those items weaved themselves into the story line. Each time something went wrong (which was about 94% of the time), I was on the edge of my seat thirsty for more.

The Ending And by ending, I mean the very last part of the book. Part Two, Act Two, Scene Fifteen. When Albus and Harry finally talk. Easily, the best part of the entire book. It made reading everything beyond worth it.

And here's the things that I didn't love as much

Harry. If you have read this yet, you'd understand. Someone just needed to shut him up. I guess teenage Harry Potter is the only Harry Potter for me.

Delphi. I don't want to spoil, but who her parents were. Just no please. I don't ever wanna picture her conception ever again. Gross. I'm going to go take a shower now.

Albus. Okay so he's different. I didn't hate him, he just made me frustrated. He was so stubborn. This entire story wouldn't have happened if he just stopped for a second and thought about what he is thankful for.


I know everyone is going to have mixed feelings about this book. We're so used to the Golden Trio being one way, it's taboo to see them as older adults with families. I know that out of all the books, it's my least favorite, but at least all 300 pages prove that Harry Potter is, and never will, be dead.