Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling
Publisher: Little, Brown UK (31st Jul 2016)
Series: Harry Potter #8
Format/Source: Hardcover (sent for review by Pansing Singapore)
Blurb:
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 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.
Sound the alarm! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was definitely one of the most anticipated books this year and I was clearly one of those who was incredibly excited for it. Come on, it’s Harry Potter, guys! It was my childhood, my bookish friends. I grew up with Harry, Ron and Hermione and I was gutted when the magical series ended.
“If I had to choose a companion to be at the return of eternal darkness with, I'd choose you.”
Okay, before I move on, I just want to say that I liked Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, even though Harry’s story ended in The Deathly Hallows for me. I thought of The Cursed Child as canon, because J. K. Rowling a.k.a. The Queen didn’t write it. But it doesn’t mean that I didn’t like The Cursed Child. It was refreshing to read the story set nineteen years later written by someone else. Not that I have strong feelings for canon or fanfiction, but I liked The Cursed Child.
"The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution."
Why, you might ask? Easy. Scorpius Malfoy. That is all there is, guys. I didn’t expect to fall in love with a character so quickly and easily, but I did. He’s like a starburst of light in the dark expanse of the sky. I loved him to bits and he made the book/script such a thrill to read. His relationship with Albus Severus was adorable and definitely the highlight of the book. It reminded me so much of Harry’s unbreakable friendship with Ron and Hermione.
Since The Cursed Child is set nineteen years later, you are probably dying to find out about what our favourite gang has been up to! Guess what? I am not telling you because to spoil it for you would be a blasphemy. Let’s just say this, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne did create a very imaginative and enjoyable story for us Potterheads, though suffice to say, it would undoubtedly shake the world if the Queen were to write an eighth novel.
“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.”
Harry Potter is pure magic, and I wouldn’t completely write off The Cursed Child as just an addition. Think of it as a bonus chapter which is about 300 pages long? Even though I thoroughly enjoyed it, I felt that there were certain aspects of the story that weren’t very well dealt with. Namely, Rose and James and Lily. They were barely featured in the book/script – and I completely understand that it’s originally a play and there are certain things that had to be cut out to keep the pace going – so I was quite disappointed that I couldn’t learn more about them. One thing that niggled me at the end of the book. What happened to Teddy? I’m just going to put it there, guys. Poor Teddy.
"Thank you for being my light in the darkness.”
Overall, The Cursed Child would be a definite treat to Potterheads old and new and I, for one, was pleased that I got the chance to read this story because I could never afford the tickets for a plane ride to the UK and a seat for The Cursed Child. Therefore, the book/script was the best that I could get. No complaints from me, chickens. Though I would love to watch this one live. My birthday is a little over a week away. Does anyone want to surprise me with tickets to The Cursed Child?
I'd like to thank Pansing Singapore for a gorgeous copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
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