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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
This felt like what Shrek 4 was to the Shrek saga... I enjoyed it, with some clever twists and a great relation to previous stories, but Ginny is still a character that annoys me. Also Albus. But Ron and Hermione were GREAT. I wish I could see the play.
This is not Book 8: it reads very differently as a play and there are a few questionable choices. Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable tribute for Harry Potter fans, imagining what could have been and what might be. The voices of the original characters are there, the inside jokes are delightful, the new characters are worthy, the bits of wisdom are pretty close to Dumbledore status, and there are lots of feels. I'm surprising my original skepticism by giving it a 5 out of 5.
This is a hard book to review because I know it's marketed as the "eight book" in the series, but for me it doesn't really feel like it should be. I know this is technically canon but a part of me just wants to think of the 7th book as final part of the story and just ignore what happened in this book.
I think for me because is in a script format it lacks a lot of the detail that we get out of novels and feels rushed because it's technically the length of a play. I also didn't feel a lot of that magical quality I got from reading the first 7 books. It did, however make me super nostalgic for the series and really making me want to revisit them.
I did actually enjoy the story which is why I gave it such a high score, a part of my tried to accept this book for what it is and kind of keep it separate from the main books. I do really wish I could see the play though cause it honestly sounds amazing and would love to see how the story is translated on the stage.
Overall I think its definitely a must read for any Harry Potter fan, it'll always be one of my all time favourite series and I will instantly grab any type of book or info that is added to this world no matter what format it's presented in.
I think for me because is in a script format it lacks a lot of the detail that we get out of novels and feels rushed because it's technically the length of a play. I also didn't feel a lot of that magical quality I got from reading the first 7 books. It did, however make me super nostalgic for the series and really making me want to revisit them.
I did actually enjoy the story which is why I gave it such a high score, a part of my tried to accept this book for what it is and kind of keep it separate from the main books. I do really wish I could see the play though cause it honestly sounds amazing and would love to see how the story is translated on the stage.
Overall I think its definitely a must read for any Harry Potter fan, it'll always be one of my all time favourite series and I will instantly grab any type of book or info that is added to this world no matter what format it's presented in.
The cursed child is the one who finds himself reading this book.
What an adventure! Liked to publication in play format because it made for a one day read ;)
The latter portion of the book got better, but I didn’t like reading a script. This was not written by J.K. Rowling (and it shows); it was based on a story she wrote. I can’t believe this was actually performed on stage; how did they show characters morphing into others (polyjuice)? How did they show the scene atop a train, etc.? Since I couldn’t picture this onstage, it (plus the manic pace) ruined the continuity; I just couldn’t get into the story. But I thought the two was believable.
Spoiler
lonely boys becoming best mates (not “best friends,” that’s U.S. language) despite their fathers’ mutual dislike of each other
This book (play? work? whatever) was... ok. It read more like a piece of fan fiction. Good fan faction, but bad writing from a author's name (I know Rowling didn't technically write it) who we have high expectations for. This would've been a good book or movie, but some major issues needed to be fixed.
1. Ron being portrayed as an idiot. In this work, Ron was very obviously playing the part of the court jester. Fine and good had we not had an entire seven book, eight movie series that developed this character. This is completely out of character. This Ron was put in here to be a bumbling idiot. He is the archetype of the typical moronic father who's wife is so much more smart and capable than he is. I hate this trope on TV and in the play too.
2. Voldemort doesn't need an heir. He sacrificed his entire being to be immortal. Not to mention all the things that are associated with him making an heir are unsettling and horrible.
3. Cedric Diggory becoming a Death Eater? Come off it now. That was a stretch in a piece that has already stretched too much.
4. The dialogue felt very inorganic. People talk way too much for their situations. The kids do not talk like kids, they talk like adults.
5. The trolley witch was ten kinds of ridiculous. C'mon now.
What did this piece do well? Two main things:
1. The portrayals of the alternate dark reality were fantastic. Spot on, pure evil.
2. The heaviness of the ending was also spot on. Harry chose willingly to sacrifice his parents and this is truly heart wrenching.
I would read this if I could check it out for free and had spare time. It's not worth paying money for. If you eat up anything Harry Potter you'll enjoy the fan service. If you're reading otherwise you'll have a meh experience up until the end. The alternate reality could have been released as a short story and the ending as well. Most of the middle was just filler. Honestly wish I could give two and a half stars.
1. Ron being portrayed as an idiot. In this work, Ron was very obviously playing the part of the court jester. Fine and good had we not had an entire seven book, eight movie series that developed this character. This is completely out of character. This Ron was put in here to be a bumbling idiot. He is the archetype of the typical moronic father who's wife is so much more smart and capable than he is. I hate this trope on TV and in the play too.
2. Voldemort doesn't need an heir. He sacrificed his entire being to be immortal. Not to mention all the things that are associated with him making an heir are unsettling and horrible.
3. Cedric Diggory becoming a Death Eater? Come off it now. That was a stretch in a piece that has already stretched too much.
4. The dialogue felt very inorganic. People talk way too much for their situations. The kids do not talk like kids, they talk like adults.
5. The trolley witch was ten kinds of ridiculous. C'mon now.
What did this piece do well? Two main things:
1. The portrayals of the alternate dark reality were fantastic. Spot on, pure evil.
2. The heaviness of the ending was also spot on. Harry chose willingly to sacrifice his parents and this is truly heart wrenching.
I would read this if I could check it out for free and had spare time. It's not worth paying money for. If you eat up anything Harry Potter you'll enjoy the fan service. If you're reading otherwise you'll have a meh experience up until the end. The alternate reality could have been released as a short story and the ending as well. Most of the middle was just filler. Honestly wish I could give two and a half stars.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes