Stephanie Sullivan: Review - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Review - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

July 08, 2021

TITLE: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

AUTHOR: J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

RATING: ★★★★

Summary (from Goodreads): The eighth story, nineteen years later...

It was always difficult being Harry Potter, and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and a father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son, Albus, must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is the complete and official playscript of the original, award-winning West End production. This updated edition includes the final dialogue and stage directions, a conversation piece between director John Tiffany and playwright Jack Thorne, the Potter family tree, and a timeline of events in the wizarding world leading up to "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."

REVIEW: First off, I was very surprised to see this story is actually written as a play. (Am I the only person who didn’t know this?) Reading it in a screenplay layout took some getting used to, but once I got past that, I quickly became engrossed in the story. I’ve been a huge Harry Potter fan for many years now, and this new addition didn’t disappoint. It begins where Deathly Hallows left off, nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts. I loved reading about Harry as a grown man with a family. I won’t give away any spoilers, but let’s just say that one of his three children has a tendency to find trouble wherever he goes, much like his dad did when he was younger. *wink* I would LOVE to see a movie adaptation of this book! If you're a fan of the Harry Potter series, then I encourage you to read The Cursed Child. You’ll be glad you did.