A review by jwillis81
Harry Potter: A History of Magic by Steve Kloves, Julia Eccleshare, Tim Peake, J.K. Rowling, Anna Pavord, British Library, Roger Highfield, Steve Backshall, Lucy Mangan, Richard Coles, Owen Davies

3.0

I was really excited to check this book out when it was announced, and Natalie Dormer is a fantastic narrator, so I was eager to read it at the start. What I didn't realize was how much the book is tied in to the museum exhibit, to the point where the audiobook references actual pieces from the exhibit and places to visit while you're in the exhibit, which we obviously can't see or experience in an audio format. I'm not sure if there are photos or other media in the physical book, but it was very frustrating to listen to an audio conversation about an object I couldn't see myself. It read more like a guided tour of a museum I wasn't actually visiting than a nonfiction work analyzing Rowling's influences when writing the books. It was interesting at times, but ultimately felt like a promotional piece for the museum exhibit rather than a standalone work meant to expand the Harry Potter universe.