Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a two-part stage play written by Jack based on a story by Jack Thorne , John Tiffany and the Queen of Magic, J. K. Rowling. I was a bit apprehensive about reading it due to all the negative reviews I had read about the book. But I am glad that I picked up the book and got a chance to relive again the magical world of Hogwarts.

The book picks up from nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts which resulted in the end of the Dark Lord. Harry Potter is 37 years old now, happily married to Ginny Weasley and father of three children. He is the Minister of Magical Laws Enforcement. Hermione Granger is the Minister of Magic and happily married to Ron Weasley. They are blessed with a daughter Rose Granger Weasley.

The book traces the tumultuous relationship of Harry with his son Albus Severus Potter. Albus feels weighed down with the burden that comes along with having a famous father and the expectations that come along with it. The sorting hat selects him for Slytherin to everyone’s surprise. The fact that he is not good at magic adds to his woes. His only solace in the otherwise unfriendly Hogwarts is Scorpius, the son of Draco Malfoy and Astoria. Scorpius is dealing with his own struggles due to the rumours that he is the son of Lord Voldemort and not Draco. The alienation they face at Hogwards binds them in a bond of friendship which grows deeper with each passing year.

However, the book has much more to offer. It brings back our favorites Harry, Ron and Hermione in a situation where they have to join hands with Draco Malfoy. Many dead characters like Dumbledore, Snape, Voldemort, James and Lily Potter also are mentioned and contribute to the story in their own way.

The book takes us through the many pleasant and unpleasant memories of the wizarding world- The Hogwarts Express, the platform nine and three-quarters, the forbidden forest, the centaurs, the death eaters, Hogwarts, the Triwizard Tournament and what not! But that’s not all. Time turner is the new introduction in the book which can let one travel through time. Albus and Scorpius juggle through the past and the present in ways that could change the future drastically.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a compelling book and forces you to finish it before putting down. At the same time, it is a light-hearted read due to less text which makes it easier to read. It is very much a Potter book with all the twists and turns, the memorable characters and quotes which are going to stay with you even after you finish reading. So don’t listen to the critics and pick up the book (if you haven’t yet) and get lost in the world of magic once again.

© 2018 Shaloo Walia All rights reserved

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