Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two

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.

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.

The staging seems really great, so I bet I would be wowed by the immersive experience and special effects, but Tiffany's screenplay was labored. JK's writing and wordplay have always been excellent and much more subtle. Perhaps I don't know theater well enough, and maybe you do need dialogue like this to explain emotion or action, but the dialogue was so clunky and obvious and kept spelling out (ha) the obvious emotions as opposed to letting the viewer/reader understand or infer them.

This was not what I was expecting at all, but it is Harry Potter so I was going to enjoy it any way. This was a play not a novel and you definitely need to understand that going in. This was not written by JKR. This is John Tiffany and Jack Thorne with JKR's story idea. This world and these characters hold a special place in so many people's hearts that another dip into the Wizarding World is bound to cause controversy. That being said, this was written for an older audience and a play going one at that. Yes this is for the fans, but again, it was not written by JKR so it is not going to be the same. It is not the amazing magical world of the original seven books. We are taken to this new era in the Wizarding World post war and it is fascinating to see the story unfold. There were a bunch of aspects of the plot that had me baffled, but I honestly enjoyed every minute of reading this.

I laughed and I bawled. Anyone who knows me and has read this knows just what broke me. But at the same time I'm so thankful for JKR, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany for giving me that little bit, even if it broke my heart to read it.

To be honest, wasn't a huge fan. The main reason I gave the book the stars I did is because I so delighted in being back in the world of Harry Potter, and it was an enjoyable, quick, escapist read However, I felt the script style was a hindrance - not only did the book feel like more of a short story than an actual, developed book, but I found it exceptionally hard to picture the characters as middle-aged, or to picture (let alone understand, empathize with) the newer characters, at all. I know this was meant for the stage thus adding a bit of a caveat to my complaint of overall development (character and plot), but still, I had higher hopes. Would still recommend to anyone who loves the Harry Potter wizarding world - but would offer that recommendation with a heavy dose of “don't get your hopes up.”

I really enjoyed this book. I do wish it was a book with more description, rather than a play, but I still was able to picture everything in my head because I have read all the other books and I've seen all the movies. I loved the plot twists, was able to figure out one of them, and as always, JK Rowling left me wanting more.

Giving it a rating already seeing as I'm one of the few who got to see this amazing show during previews as well as having just finished reading the script through again. The set, actors, music show in one was incredible with some inspiring moments of dialogue that tugged at both the heartstrings and the laughter trapped in our throats. I may be biased as a Harry Potter fan but I can truly say that from where I was sat the story (which is exactly what this is) was well woven and well worth the money spent and I cannot believe I can finally hold each and every line in my hands... Moments within the script truly bring each of these characters to life especially those we got a brief mention of in the Deathly Hallows epilogue. As a stand alone script I believe there will truly be some magic lost by those who have yet to see it, however it will be a script well worth... Pardon, it IS a script well worth a five star review.

Honestly, I don't know what to do with this book rn. I'm not sure about the rating and I don't even know what to think about it. For now, I'll drop a neutral rating here and I'll leave for some time lol


BUT. Obviously I don't want to go away without a quote, so here it is - BAM!

《Harry, there is never a perfect answer in this messy, emotional world. Perfection is beyond the reach of humankind, beyond the reach of magic. In every shining moment of happiness is that drop of poison: the knowledge that pain will come again. Be honest to those you love, show your pain. To suffer is as human as to breathe.》

Des années après, plonger à nouveau dans l'univers d'Harry Potter m'a bien plu. Le style théâtral convient plutôt bien à cet univers, et l'histoire, sans être révolutionnaire, est sympathique. Ce retour est plutôt une réussite, tout en étant un hommage touchant à la saga que j'ai suivi avec passion à l'époque.

It's been a long time since I read a book in under 24 hours, I have 4 children who are currently on school holidays so finding time to read at all is difficult let alone finding time to finish a whole book. Like many other people felt, I would imagine, this one could not wait. So long was it in it's coming that I had to be devoured immediately. The boy wizard is back, although less boy now and more 40 something man, Harry Potter still remains the world's most loved literary character.

I'd had my excitement for this book further heightened as my stepson and his girlfriend had been lucky enough to attend preview performances of both parts of this play at the Palace Theatre, London last month and returned saying it was by far and away the “best thing I've ever seen” and promised the story was exceptional so as my clock ticked to just after midnight and my copy arrived I delved straight in and was immediately lost. I freely admit that absolutely nothing has been achieved in my house today in terms of washing and housework and dinner was provided courtesy of our local chip shop but this was like reviving my life blood and partying with some very old friends who I hadn't heard from for years.

I am going to avoid providing any spoilers of the story, firstly because I know J K Rowling has worked very hard to stop secrets spilling out before the release of this book and also because I think it's imperative that people be allowed to enjoy this story as I did, fresh and without any idea of where Rowling is taking us. All I will say is that it was exactly I needed. Because it is in the format of the script from the play currently playing in London it isn't flowered with any of the descriptive text we find in a novel. There are stage directions and lots and lots of wonderful dialogue from our characters. The action therefore moves very quickly, there's little time to catch your breath and before you know it you've flown through 50 pages and are lost. Every character you would expect to find within a Potter tale at this point in time is there and it picks up exactly at the end of book 8, The Deathly Hallows, with Harry & Ginny and Ron & Hermione waving their children off as they go to begin their first year at Hogwarts.

We are introduced to new characters, Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy and their story is front and centre of this play. The way in which we grow to love them throughout is brilliant and testament to Rowling's writing. It is clear her years away from the franchise have not lessened her love for the characters who made her famous and she's happy to now introduce the next generation. It is a clever story, using tools and tricks we are familiar with from old novels to weave us a tale which makes us smile in delight and gasp as we make links to events of old which are recast in the future.

I cannot tell you how much fun I've had today, I feel fulfilled in a way no book has been able to leave me feeling for quite some time. I've been lacklustre as a reader recently, a part timer drifting around not really committing to anything wholeheartedly. Today I feel like I've come home, I've found myself again in a world of characters who have shaped literature for people around the world over the last 15 years. It's a phenomenon that I've shared with my children and even now it has important lessons to share. Would it make a wonderful movie? Absolutely. Do I wish I'd been fortunate enough to experience it onstage? Yes, although reading at home I could visualise my beloved characters as I wished, hear their voices spoken in the familiar tones I've loved rather than by actors and actresses new to the franchise. Although my stepson assures me the acting on stage is exceptional it' difficult to reshape the vision in my head. Do I pray for more? Absolutely. Please, please tell me this is only the beginning of a new chapter in the world of Harry Potter and we do not need to wait so long for the next one this time.

I am certain the stage production of this is heaps better.

As this was a script and not a novel, the plot was good but without J.K Rowling's extensive character descriptions, the story just lacks magic.

Feels more of a children's amateur tale rather than an epilogue.
(Or dare I say 8th part as its advertised)
Dialogues seemed forced. Constantly reminding the reader of past events.

But who doesn't like a bit of nostalgia eh?
Looks lovingly at Tales of Beedle the Bard

I like to read books before I watch the film. In this case, though, I didn't want the play spoiled, and so I waited to read the book. And I was going to rate the book four stars, but then I realised that the only reason for that is that I was able to enjoy reading Scorpius whilst hearing the brilliant Anthony Boyle's voice in my head. And then I realised that it's quite difficult to read Cursed Child and separate it from the performance; but that if I do, it doesn't stand up so well on its own. Also I realised that unless I'm reading or memorising lines, I really don't like reading plays.

That said, the play is wonderful and Anthony Boyle is a marvel and the score is phenomenal and if you get the opportunity to see it I heartily recommend it.