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.
Never thought I’d read that.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes place 19 years after the Deathly Hallows. Everyone is grown up or gone and have children of their own. It is something everyone has wondered but some didn’t want to read (or see considering this is a play.)
I didn’t care about this being a screenplay. I’ve read plenty before and that didn’t bother me. That’s the smallest of my problems with this book.
So how do I begin this?
*spoilers*
*also, I wrote this a few days after reading Cursed Child back when it came out in 2016. I fixed up some spelling errors, added some gifs, but all opinions are from when I originally posted it. And this isn’t so much of a review, but thoughts on.*
The Pluses
Unlike some people, I did want to read about Harry’s life after the battle ended. More specifically, how did he and Ginny pick child names? Was she all for naming her children after the people Harry admired the most?
Moving on, that’s what got me so excited about this book. I woke up at 5 am to preorder it on the day I could. Okay, some of that was my anxiety waking me up, but still. Although it wasn’t written by Rowling it still got her stamp of approval which is as close to a reawakening as we could get.
The part I enjoyed most is life after the battle and seeing how Harry, Ron, and Hermione are doing whether it be with work or parenting.
Another favorite: Scorpius Malfoy. How Draco could conceive such a sweet and dorky child I don’t know. Well, I do know and her name is Astoria. No one would think for a second Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy’s sons would become best friends but I think that’s what makes it even better.
Popsugar
Harry still having problems with Voldemort, all those years later, it makes sense. Mentally, he’s not over it, and it’s affecting his life and family.
Of course, there’s Hermione and Ron still being there for Harry, although Ron feels more like a tossed-to-the-side comic-relief. Always there to break the tension or eating, because those are the only traits of Ron Weasley apparently. It sounds more like A Very Potter Musical making fun of those traits rather than Ron having an actual character.
Like I said I was so excited about the concept of this book, but a few things fell short.
Quibbles and More Quibbles
Time travel, I hate it. I hate it. Funny coming from someone who loves Doctor Who but paradoxes and shit just make my head hurt. We know it’s a risky thing so what’s even the point? And that’s the whole book. Constantly going back and trying to fix a mess-up only to find it turned out worse the second time around. Freaking time travel.
Tenor Gif
I guess should mention the main character, Albus.
I know Harry wasn’t a perfect character who went through his angsty years but man, Albus just thinks the world is out to get him. I find it hilarious Harry told Albus being sorted into Slytherin is okay and guess what? He’s sorted into Slytherin and just finds it horrible. He can’t command a freaking broom “up” and well, I guess that’s the end of any legacy Albus Potter could have. His attitude just makes his character annoying.
Freeform
Rose. Hermione and Ron’s daughter. I dislike Rose. How could Hermione and Ron raise such an obnoxious, arrogant person who judges people before getting to know them? Hermione constantly bullied for being a muggle. Ron bullied for being poor. And then Rose comes out of nowhere and decides to ignore her cousin because he can’t tell a freaking broom UP.
I just didn’t like Rose.
There’s a small thing that bugged me and it’s all the information from the previous Harry Potter books being mentioned and apparently, all the characters know? Did Harry tell the world Snape was in love with his mom and had her Patronus? Because people know.
It’s like the characters read all the Harry Potter books and are just using information from those to create the story instead of coming up with something new. Voldemort threat? Been there. Time travel? Done that. Move on.
Giphy
So can I recommend this book? For the most part, I did enjoy reading it. Hell, I would’ve read it faster if work didn’t take up most of my time…but I rolled my eyes at parts and didn’t get some because it didn’t make sense. As a play, I could see it working out better, although I didn’t mind reading it as a script.
If you’re a life-long Harry Potter fan I suggest reading it. You’ll get the references and character interaction, but I completely understand people not liking this. In the end, I think it starts with whether you wanted this book to exist in the first place.
I’m Ranting a Bit
God freaking damn time travel. It was already established in the world. Everything that’s supposed to happen already happened. The Butterfly Effect doesn’t exist in the world, but that’s the main plot of the book.
So, what the hell Cursed Child? Albus and Scorpius can go back and create a Butterfly Effect? In reality, they should’ve been at the Triwizard Tournament the first time around, creating small tidbits we wouldn’t understand until Cursed Child when they did those things. But no, they go back, change one thing, and now Hermione and Ron aren’t together?
Oh and I love that Victor Krum is the key to them getting together. Not all those years of built-up tension and chemistry but Ron getting jealous. That’s it. Then Hermione becoming another version of Snape because she didn’t get with Ron? Really? Hermione? Okay.
And Luna…
Wait…
Where the hell is Luna? Harry’s daughter is named after her!
Oh yeah, his daughter…and James…they were there for like a second and that’s it. I almost forgot he had other kids. Like, way to not help your brother out in school while he’s obviously going through a hard time, James. Or are you like Rose and can’t stand to be seen with someone so embarrassing?
Then there’s George, Hagrid, Teddy, Molly and Arthur, even Dean and Seamus, every other member of the Weasley family…
This is one of the problems of adding to the Harry Potter universe. Questions will be answered but more questions will arise. Where are these other characters? Neville is mentioned by name, but that’s about it.
Finally, Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldy, Voldy Voldemort.
Does anyone want to imagine him and Bellatrix doing it? Cause I don’t. But hey, they have a kid and she just wants to meet her freaking dad. This how Albus and Harry finally start to bond, poor girl didn’t get to meet her father. Lord Voldemort. This is weird.
Gifer
I think it was an idea the fans had, that Bellatrix and Voldemort could’ve been a thing, but to me Voldemort just…no. I didn’t think he could have any feelings like that towards anyone. Of course, it doesn’t have to be about love, but physical feelings? I can’t imagine it. Voldemort’s about power and not…having…kids.
And the plot twist Delphi is Voldemort’s daughter? Where did that come from? I know Harry had those nightmares, that Voldemort could be returning (and in a way he did with his daughter) but still. I just want twists to have a good reveal and not be out of nowhere without any evidence to support it.
Did I miss anything? Hermione being Minster of Magic is pretty awesome. I can see that.
Poor Scorpius having to go through all those years of torment because people thought he was Voldemort’s son. Life doesn’t look too hard now, does it, Albus? But Scorpius and Rose? Just seemed a bit forced to me. What could Scorpius see in her? I see more chemistry between him and Albus.
Now that twist…you could see coming.
*Present Meagan here…I really didn’t give a good final conclusive thought on the book and after all these years…wouldn’t read it again. To be honest, it comes across like fan-fiction and most of the characters are out of character, so unlike past Meagan, I don’t recommend it.*
Quibbles and Scribbles 