Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, Bk 8) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the 8th book in the Harry Potter series; although I cringe to call it that. I think I will just say it takes place after the 7th book in the series and is more fan fiction than anything. This was okay but not great. It was just something to extend the Harry Potter world that felt unnecessary to me.
Those who say this reads like fanfiction are correct; that is pretty much what it is. That is not to say fanfiction is bad, and this was okay. It just didn't have the magic of the earlier books. This is also written as a play (which I knew going in) and I am not a huge fan of reading stories in play form.
The majority of the story focuses around the next generation of boys (Harry's son Albus, and Draco's son) and their daddy issues. That right there is pretty much the story. Voldemort comes back into play in a sense and this kind of made me groan. I am not a huge fan of the âreturning of an already vanquished evilâ theme.
Overall this was a quick read and it was okay, but I didn't love it. My ten year old son, who is absolutely obsessed with Harry Potter right now, did really enjoy this book. So, this book may work better for younger readers who just want a bit more Harry Potter in their lives. I was fairly disappointed and would have been better off if I had never read this book.
Those who say this reads like fanfiction are correct; that is pretty much what it is. That is not to say fanfiction is bad, and this was okay. It just didn't have the magic of the earlier books. This is also written as a play (which I knew going in) and I am not a huge fan of reading stories in play form.
The majority of the story focuses around the next generation of boys (Harry's son Albus, and Draco's son) and their daddy issues. That right there is pretty much the story. Voldemort comes back into play in a sense and this kind of made me groan. I am not a huge fan of the âreturning of an already vanquished evilâ theme.
Overall this was a quick read and it was okay, but I didn't love it. My ten year old son, who is absolutely obsessed with Harry Potter right now, did really enjoy this book. So, this book may work better for younger readers who just want a bit more Harry Potter in their lives. I was fairly disappointed and would have been better off if I had never read this book.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, Bk 8) on + 1450 more book reviews
I couldn't decide whether to rate this book at three or four stars but felt that it probably was closer to four than three so that's what it is. Yes, I'm a Harry Potter fan. I liked the idea of a new villain. She is incredibly powerful and certainly a match for Harry. Moving the story so many years ahead was a good idea and the conflicts between the teenagers and their parents adds much interest to the story. Those who have grown up under the auspices of a famous parents understand how Albus and Scorpius felt about their lives and their parents. Obviously, the authors left room for further installments featuring the next generations.
The theatrical format is interesting and will no doubt put some readers off but it makes for easy and quick reading. I like the short sequence of act which kept me leaping to the next one to finish the novel. It's fun.
The theatrical format is interesting and will no doubt put some readers off but it makes for easy and quick reading. I like the short sequence of act which kept me leaping to the next one to finish the novel. It's fun.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
This is written in script form so a stage play rather than a novel, BUT a wonderful story with many of the old characters and the next generation of Hogwart's students. It made me realize how much I have missed Harry Potter! A fun adventure with old friends and new dangers. This book makes me want to say "Oh please, Ms. Rowling, let's have a new generation of novels!".
Ashley B. (daredevilgirl013) reviewed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, Bk 8) on + 746 more book reviews
Granted this is a script and not an actual book book. I would have liked to have had some more detail as I felt parts were left out. Fair warning after this point there will be some spoilers....
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Spoilers below!
First off I felt as if this was a bit of a "fan fic" like many others have felt. We don't get to see Teddy at all which I found to be disappointing. This book mainly focused on the Potters and the Malfoy's. I wanted all of the next generation's children in the books, not just two of them for the most part.
I knew we were going to run into problems when we hit the words, "Voldermort Day." I just felt like that was really low on the creative scale.
A lot of stuff just didn't seem to make sense. Cedric became a Death Eater in the alternate time line?? He's a Hufflepuff.....they're not known of that kind of thing. Also I wanted Hermione and Viktor to end up together in an alternate time line..didn't happen.
Also, Hagrid at Godric's Hollow..where was Snape? They saw the whole thing yet Snape didn't show up, Hagrid did.
How was Bellatrix pregnant and no one know this? Wouldn't Hermione kind of sensed it with the Polyjuice Potion that oh hey..girl's pregnant back during the battle. Plus..baby bump?
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END OF SPOILERS
Just so many plot holes that I felt shouldn't have been there. Alternate time line or not. I think J.K. just gave these people some bullet points on what she wanted in there and they just ran away with it at that point.
All in all it was an interesting read still, but the magic just wasn't as amazing as it once was.
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Spoilers below!
First off I felt as if this was a bit of a "fan fic" like many others have felt. We don't get to see Teddy at all which I found to be disappointing. This book mainly focused on the Potters and the Malfoy's. I wanted all of the next generation's children in the books, not just two of them for the most part.
I knew we were going to run into problems when we hit the words, "Voldermort Day." I just felt like that was really low on the creative scale.
A lot of stuff just didn't seem to make sense. Cedric became a Death Eater in the alternate time line?? He's a Hufflepuff.....they're not known of that kind of thing. Also I wanted Hermione and Viktor to end up together in an alternate time line..didn't happen.
Also, Hagrid at Godric's Hollow..where was Snape? They saw the whole thing yet Snape didn't show up, Hagrid did.
How was Bellatrix pregnant and no one know this? Wouldn't Hermione kind of sensed it with the Polyjuice Potion that oh hey..girl's pregnant back during the battle. Plus..baby bump?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
END OF SPOILERS
Just so many plot holes that I felt shouldn't have been there. Alternate time line or not. I think J.K. just gave these people some bullet points on what she wanted in there and they just ran away with it at that point.
All in all it was an interesting read still, but the magic just wasn't as amazing as it once was.
JENNIFER C. (jenferbooks) reviewed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, Bk 8) on + 17 more book reviews
It was a little difficult to read.
Shannon M. (confuzzledbooks) reviewed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, Bk 8) on + 486 more book reviews
The 8th book that no one thought would happen. Technically this isn't a novel like the previous 7 Harry Potter books, it's screenplay. This means less descriptive paragraphs and quick dialogue. The title of the book is still Harry Potter And The Cursed Child but most of the book the main character is Harry's son Albus. Not that Harry does not appear in the book, he is absolutely crucial to the events that transpire.
Many people consider this story fan fiction. For me I think, so what if it is fan fiction? I still enjoyed it. Here are some the reason the Cursed Child is a fine installment into Harry Potter. We get to see grown up Harry. Adult Harry is still very human and makes mistakes sometimes and especially when it comes to child rearing. Even the wizarding world has no book on how to parent. We get to see more of Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Draco's kids. It also has that one magical item that Dumbledore gave Hermione..you know the one that turns back time. Oh yeah there is time travel.
Some reason you may not like it. Albus Potter is a whiner but what you going to do with a teenaged boy that feels he will never make his father happy and will forever be in Harry's shadow. The time travel story is...well a little hokey...just a little.
I appreciate this tale even with it downfalls. Maybe J.K. will write some Albus Potter books in the future. What ever she does I will probably be in line.
Many people consider this story fan fiction. For me I think, so what if it is fan fiction? I still enjoyed it. Here are some the reason the Cursed Child is a fine installment into Harry Potter. We get to see grown up Harry. Adult Harry is still very human and makes mistakes sometimes and especially when it comes to child rearing. Even the wizarding world has no book on how to parent. We get to see more of Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Draco's kids. It also has that one magical item that Dumbledore gave Hermione..you know the one that turns back time. Oh yeah there is time travel.
Some reason you may not like it. Albus Potter is a whiner but what you going to do with a teenaged boy that feels he will never make his father happy and will forever be in Harry's shadow. The time travel story is...well a little hokey...just a little.
I appreciate this tale even with it downfalls. Maybe J.K. will write some Albus Potter books in the future. What ever she does I will probably be in line.
Angie S. (mspoet569) reviewed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, Bk 8) on + 42 more book reviews
Harry Potter fans rejoice! It's been 9 years. . .we've waited 9 LONG years and the moment has arrived! Anyone else as excited as I am to be returning to Hogwarts?
Just in case the featured image wasn't enough warning- I may or may not talk about certain "events" in the book that may ruin it for an upcoming reader. So, if you have not read the book, and do not want it spoiled, please stop reading. I personally do not like to have a book ruined for me in advance, it actually makes me NOT want to read it, and I do not wish that for anyone who reads my blog.
So a little back story to me actually purchasing this book. Shock of all shockers, I did NOT pre-order this book. Fans, please do not hang your head in shame for me! I actually wasn't quite sure how I would like the book in script form. So on my day off, I just meandered on over to Barnes and Noble on a whim. Of course, they did not have the golden ticket I was looking for. They did however ask me if I wanted to order it and have it shipped to the store or the house. I politely declined, and figured I'd take my chances trying to find it in another store. Recently, our mall decided to move some stores around, including the bookstore BAM! It is a brand new store, nicely stocked, great appearances, and low and behold, they had TONS of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child books. So thank you BAM! for making it extremely easy for me.
Again, starting out, I was not sure how well I would take to the script style writing. After about 100 pages in an hour, I figured it would be a lot easier reading than I expected. It's quite literally like watching TV while having subtitles on. What script writing does is essentially take out the he said, she said, and all of the scenery details.
So for my Potter fandom genre, this is the exact picture I want you to have in your head when you start the book:
qixyP.jpg
maxresdefault
Got those images in your head? Fantastic, you are now officially set to start The Cursed Child! These faces, and voices stuck with me throughout the book.
In the very beginning you are introduced (or rather re-introduced) to Albus Severus, the rest of the Potter Clan, Rose Weasley, Hermoine and Ron of course, and Scorpius, who is Draco's son. I feel that being a previous (and current) Harry Potter fan, the book was a bit predictable, but not in an annoying way. So, because Harry and Draco were enemies in the series, it makes absolute PERFECT sense that they would be insta-friends, thus starting the 2nd generation of Potter of mischief being managed.
Albus is so like his father, but also so very different. He questions whether or not he'll be put into the Slytherin house. Even though Harry tells him that he can consciously tell the Sorting Hat he does not want to be in that house, Albus still has his hangups. Naturally, Albus is placed in Slytherin, surprise everyone else BUT the reader. Luckily, Albus' BFF Scorpius is in Slytherin too, and the both of them are the odd man out in the school.
Of course, because Harry did not have the most pleasant of memories with Draco, he's not all too thrilled that Albus' friend is Draco's son. Harry tries to convince Albus, and Headmaster McGonegall (yes, you read that right!) to keep the boys separated; thinking any Malfoy to be nothing but trouble for a Potter.
Now that we're caught up on the kids, let's catch up with our favorite characters. Harry is employed at the Ministry of Magic, specifically head of the Magical Law Enforcement. Hermoine has become, what else, but the Minister of Magic. Currently, the entire Ministry is on a seek and destroy mission with time turners; for obvious reasons. . .they don't want anyone to go back in time and bring back he who must not be named.
Harry does have a familiar visitor come calling to his house; Amos Diggory. Time has aged everyone, and that certainly does not leave out Mr. Diggory. He is in a wheelchair, and in an retirement home for aging witches and wizards. Amos begs Harry to help, to bring Cedric back; see where this is going? And of course, because nosiness runs in the family (haha not Voldemort's family though!) Albus is sitting on the staircase overhearing his dad's conversation, with a desperate man, who loves his departed son, just not enough to bring him back.
Albus decides as a Potter, he needs to help; since of course it was his dad's fault that Cedric died. But what Potter acts alone? Albus and Scorpius decided to steal the time turner that was recently confiscated by the Ministry of Magic, go back in time, and stop Cedric from winning the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
For any true Potter fan, I believe it is your absolute duty to read this book. It doesn't matter that it's in script form, that should not stop you whatsoever. It's your DUTY to see the books through to the end. I know for myself, it felt absolutely amazing to be back in Hogwarts, surrounded by the characters I grew to love. I loved the friendships, I loved the new adventures, I loved the plot twists. Sure, SOME things were predictable, but that should NEVER stop you from reading a book.
What I didn't like about this book? I'm sad that the Harry Potter world that I love so much has officially come to an end. I know all good things come to an end, but it's like taking the last bite of something you really love; you're just not mentally prepared for it to be over. Because of finishing the book, I now really want to go back and re-read the entire series. I also dubbed this weekend Harry Potter weekend, and am watching the movies with my kids. . .they will thank me one day.
Just in case the featured image wasn't enough warning- I may or may not talk about certain "events" in the book that may ruin it for an upcoming reader. So, if you have not read the book, and do not want it spoiled, please stop reading. I personally do not like to have a book ruined for me in advance, it actually makes me NOT want to read it, and I do not wish that for anyone who reads my blog.
So a little back story to me actually purchasing this book. Shock of all shockers, I did NOT pre-order this book. Fans, please do not hang your head in shame for me! I actually wasn't quite sure how I would like the book in script form. So on my day off, I just meandered on over to Barnes and Noble on a whim. Of course, they did not have the golden ticket I was looking for. They did however ask me if I wanted to order it and have it shipped to the store or the house. I politely declined, and figured I'd take my chances trying to find it in another store. Recently, our mall decided to move some stores around, including the bookstore BAM! It is a brand new store, nicely stocked, great appearances, and low and behold, they had TONS of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child books. So thank you BAM! for making it extremely easy for me.
Again, starting out, I was not sure how well I would take to the script style writing. After about 100 pages in an hour, I figured it would be a lot easier reading than I expected. It's quite literally like watching TV while having subtitles on. What script writing does is essentially take out the he said, she said, and all of the scenery details.
So for my Potter fandom genre, this is the exact picture I want you to have in your head when you start the book:
qixyP.jpg
maxresdefault
Got those images in your head? Fantastic, you are now officially set to start The Cursed Child! These faces, and voices stuck with me throughout the book.
In the very beginning you are introduced (or rather re-introduced) to Albus Severus, the rest of the Potter Clan, Rose Weasley, Hermoine and Ron of course, and Scorpius, who is Draco's son. I feel that being a previous (and current) Harry Potter fan, the book was a bit predictable, but not in an annoying way. So, because Harry and Draco were enemies in the series, it makes absolute PERFECT sense that they would be insta-friends, thus starting the 2nd generation of Potter of mischief being managed.
Albus is so like his father, but also so very different. He questions whether or not he'll be put into the Slytherin house. Even though Harry tells him that he can consciously tell the Sorting Hat he does not want to be in that house, Albus still has his hangups. Naturally, Albus is placed in Slytherin, surprise everyone else BUT the reader. Luckily, Albus' BFF Scorpius is in Slytherin too, and the both of them are the odd man out in the school.
Of course, because Harry did not have the most pleasant of memories with Draco, he's not all too thrilled that Albus' friend is Draco's son. Harry tries to convince Albus, and Headmaster McGonegall (yes, you read that right!) to keep the boys separated; thinking any Malfoy to be nothing but trouble for a Potter.
Now that we're caught up on the kids, let's catch up with our favorite characters. Harry is employed at the Ministry of Magic, specifically head of the Magical Law Enforcement. Hermoine has become, what else, but the Minister of Magic. Currently, the entire Ministry is on a seek and destroy mission with time turners; for obvious reasons. . .they don't want anyone to go back in time and bring back he who must not be named.
Harry does have a familiar visitor come calling to his house; Amos Diggory. Time has aged everyone, and that certainly does not leave out Mr. Diggory. He is in a wheelchair, and in an retirement home for aging witches and wizards. Amos begs Harry to help, to bring Cedric back; see where this is going? And of course, because nosiness runs in the family (haha not Voldemort's family though!) Albus is sitting on the staircase overhearing his dad's conversation, with a desperate man, who loves his departed son, just not enough to bring him back.
Albus decides as a Potter, he needs to help; since of course it was his dad's fault that Cedric died. But what Potter acts alone? Albus and Scorpius decided to steal the time turner that was recently confiscated by the Ministry of Magic, go back in time, and stop Cedric from winning the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
For any true Potter fan, I believe it is your absolute duty to read this book. It doesn't matter that it's in script form, that should not stop you whatsoever. It's your DUTY to see the books through to the end. I know for myself, it felt absolutely amazing to be back in Hogwarts, surrounded by the characters I grew to love. I loved the friendships, I loved the new adventures, I loved the plot twists. Sure, SOME things were predictable, but that should NEVER stop you from reading a book.
What I didn't like about this book? I'm sad that the Harry Potter world that I love so much has officially come to an end. I know all good things come to an end, but it's like taking the last bite of something you really love; you're just not mentally prepared for it to be over. Because of finishing the book, I now really want to go back and re-read the entire series. I also dubbed this weekend Harry Potter weekend, and am watching the movies with my kids. . .they will thank me one day.
