Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Here it is folks, the book we have all been waiting for: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (co-written with John Tiffany and Jack Thorne). As one of the many that has grown up with Harry Potter, I have been incredibly interested in what might have happened after the epilogue of Deathly Hallows. Never did I think we would actually get something.

I will start by saying that I pride myself in being a spoiler free blog. So never fear you readers who have yet to crack open the new book. Read on without fear of spoiling the plot.

The Cursed Child overlaps with the epilogue of Deathly Hallows. Therefore, we begin with Harry and Ginny taking their children to King's Cross Station for Albus Severus's first year at Hogwarts. This play covers a few years. Albus grows into a surly young man who despises his father's fame and Harry finds it hard to relate to his son. Unexpectedly, Albus finds comfort and friendship in young Scorpius Malfoy. The two boys, in an effort to make up for some of Harry's past wrong-doings, steal an illegal Time-Turner and go back in time to save Cedric Diggory. What the two don't realize is that meddling in time can have serious consequences. The story is one of self-discovery and the bonds between father and child.

First and foremost, let me make this clear for you all. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a stageplay script, NOT a novel. The book reads very differently than all the previous Harry Potter novels. It still paints a great picture for you, but it is drastically different.

I have to tell you, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was kind of disappointing. It read like a piece of fanfiction. Now, I don't know if this is because it had two other writers' influencing it or not, but it just felt wrong. It didn't seem like an extension of the Harry Potter universe. The characters didn't seem like themselves (Harry seemed unbelievably cliched in his parenting). It felt like a sitcom reading about him and Albus butting heads. Also, magically there just so happens to be ONE Time Turner to survive the battle at the Ministry? Seems very far fetched and quite fan fiction-esque.

That being said, it was still a good read. The plot kept me hooked and was full of plot twists and surprises. The ideas were dark and things many fans have thrown around when plotting out a new fanfic. Especially when I got into Part 2, I was on the edge of my seat. The suspense was very well elevated.

Another great thing about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was, as I said, it paints a great picture. There are enough stage directions and good dialogue to do justice to the readers. Therefore, even if you never see the play, you can still see the story. In that aspect, it is like reading all the other Harry Potter books. Your mind can delve completely into this other world of magic.

Now, as wonderful as the plot was, nothing can overpower the fact that this just did feel like an extension of real Harry Potter universe. I got mad about the idea that some of these things are now considered canon. I think the events that occur after Deathly Hallows were better left to the imagination of the the fans. If Harry Potter and the Cursed Child had a different author than J.K. Rowling on the title, then I might be sold. But with her name and her stamp of approval, I feel slightly let down.

Because of this, it breaks my heart to say that I give Harry Potter and the Cursed Child a B- rating.

Also, in case you were curious, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child fulfills the "A book published in this year (2016)" category for my reading challenge.

For those of you who have finished the new script, what are your opinions? Do you get the fanfiction vibe as well?

#JKRowling #Script #HarryPotter #Challenge