amaleapoulos

As an avid Harry Potter fan, I was skeptical about reading “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” I love Harry Potter, and I was worried that a new book with different characters would tarnish my view of the series. Boy, was I worried for nothing.

“Cursed Child” is a play, meaning the book is actually the script. The playwright Jack Thorne based the production off of an original story he wrote with J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany, a Tony award winning theatre director. The book was released on July 31, 2016.

The dialogue was captivating; I found it impossible to put the book down, I read its entire 308 pages in under 10 hours. Although the book is written as a script, the transcript doesn’t skimp on any particulars; the stage directions provide enough details to see the whole picture.

The story focuses on the dysfunctional relationship between Harry and his middle child, Albus. It deals with the passage of time and how one bad decision can turn the world upside down. As with any other coming-of-age story, there is a dark villain (with a bit of a twist).

Some of the most satisfying parts in the book are the exchanges between lifelong friends Harry, Hermione and Ron. Harry, now the Head of Magical Law Enforcement for the Ministry of Magic, often works side by side with Minister for Magic Hermione Granger. Ron visits the pair when he’s not busy with Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. Harry and Ginny have three kids: James, Albus, and Lily. Ron and Hermione have two: Rose and Hugo. The families often work together and it is reminiscent of the original novels.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” didn’t fall flat compared to the original novels.

It’s the perfect story to read while enjoying a Butterbeer-inspired latte from Spielbound.