This review contains spoilers for the book, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”. If you do not wish to read these spoilers, the Prospector recommends leaving this page.

On the beloved fictional character Harry Potter’s 36th birthday, another thing was celebrated: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”. The screenplay premiered the night before in London. The book was about Harry’s son, Albus, and his adventures with Draco Malfoy’s son, Scorpious.

Many people I talked to complained about the format of the story. None the less, I enjoyed the script. It was nice to have a change of structure with the story, and I think it added another perspective. It almost sets a barrier, where you’re in the story, but you aren’t as involved. It gives it more of a personal feel, with all the trouble and emotion right at the start.

I sincerely enjoyed how the book starts up right where it left off in Deathly Hallows. Even some of the dialogue is repeated from the original book. It gave the script a feel like we never left the Harry Potter world in the first place.

One thing I didn’t enjoy, however, was the way time moved throughout the first couple acts. Albus’s first three years at Hogwarts are all portrayed in less then 10 pages. I really felt that those years could’ve been expanded on, but I realize that might not have been possible because of the time limit on the play.

There were many gaps in the play that didn’t line up with the previous books. Several small details just didn’t make sense or contradicted what was already established. For example, at the end of Deathly Hallows, the last words were, “The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.” In this book, it states that Harry’s scar pains him throughout the story. This is aggravating, since the two statements seem to contradict.

The book focused solely on the same main characters, and didn’t expand further on the other children or old characters. For example, we don’t see Hugo Weasley, Teddy Lupin, or Victorie Weasley, who were all stated in Deathly Hallows to be at Kings Cross station the same time as everyone else was in the start of the script. We of course focus on Albus and Scorpius, but we don’t get many scenes with Rose or James either. Along with the lack of new characters, I would’ve liked to see more of the old characters as well. Neville is mentioned throughout the book, but we never see him or hear from him. I was also disapoited in the lack of Weasley siblings. George, Percy, Charly, and Bill weren’t even mentioned.

Even though some of the old characters were absent, the Golden Trio’s bond was not. Harry, Hermione, and Ron’s relationship was fun to read and after decades;their friendship was still one of the closest ones I’ve read. The relationships of the characters were tested in ways it hasn’t occurred before. The script had a much different feel and mood then the other seven books. It is a very emotional tone that is portrayed.

Harry, through the original books, seemed to somehow handle this emotional trauma caused by Aunt and Uncle Vernon scarily well. In this book, some of the damage that was done appears finally. He has several nightmares throughout the book featuring his aunt, uncle, and cousin.