Should You Read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?
Short answer to the question posed above: Yes. Obviously.
Long answer? Perhaps you, the discerning reader, want to know WHY Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is so worthy of your time. I get that. You don’t want to invest your hard-earned cash in just any life-altering addition to the Harry Potter canon. You want to know what you’re getting yourself into.
Allow me to give you a hand. Here’s how to know if, and why, the book is your cup of tea. (Light spoilers ahead.)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II
Hardcover
$17.99
$29.99
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II
By J. K. Rowling , John Tiffany , Jack Thorne
In Stock Online
Hardcover
$17.99
$29.99
Do you wish the original stories had been a little kinder to Slytherins?
Perfect. You should read it. Without giving too much away, I’m happy to report that Cursed Child has a whole lot of Slytherin going on. You could go so far as to say the story is a testament to the unsung heroes of Slytherin House—including but not limited to Scorpius Malfoy, Draco’s son, who is bar none my favorite character. The original seven books weren’t completely devoid of Slytherin good guys (Slughorn, Andromeda Tonks, Regulus Black, Snape), but none of these characters were at the forefront of the narrative (besides Snape, whose true allegiance wasn’t revealed until the very end). Cursed Child spends much of its time exploring the age-old Gryffindor/Slytherin dichotomy…and perhaps the idea that there really isn’t much of a dichotomy at all.
In your day to day, do you treasure even the most minute references to all things Harry Potter?
Read it. Though the story belongs to Harry’s son, Albus Severus, it takes place wholly in the wizarding world with which we’re all familiar, and it’s chock full of nods to hardcore fans. For instance, as Albus Severus prepares to enter Platform 9 3/4 for the first time, Harry tells him it’s “best to do it at a run if you’re nervous.” Minor characters like Madam Hooch, Amos Diggory, and Moaning Myrtle pop up. Major characters you wouldn’t expect to meet again do as well. And we haven’t seen the last of the Marauder’s Map, the Invisibility Cloak, or Time-Turners.
Do you like having your heart broken in the best way possible?
Read it. Immediately.
Do you like dad jokes?
Of course you do. I don’t know why I’m even asking. Read it. Ron makes dad jokes galore. It’s kind of incredible.
Are you expecting Cursed Child to be the eighth book in the Harry Potter saga?
Read it. Cursed Child has been billed as the eighth story, which it is, but it is not the eighth book. I think this is an important distinction and one that we’re all aware of on some level; that said, actually experiencing it is totally different.
A theatrical play is an entirely separate storytelling medium. It’s meant to be shown, in the most literal sense of the word. J.K. Rowling has said it herself: a play was the only way to tell this story, and having read the script, I can now fully appreciate what she means. Cursed Child is as rich and wild as the stage demands, and your reading experience will be much more enjoyable if you let go of any rigid expectations and just go in expecting sheer magic.
At the end of the day, do you love Harry Potter?
Read it. This new tale somehow manages to seamlessly reintegrate the old one without feeling forced. There’s a new generation of Hogwarts students, but we haven’t let go of the old one entirely. Look, I’m a Harry Potter fan of the highest caliber. I feel protective of this series because it meant so much to me growing up. I went into Cursed Child unsure of how I’d feel about it, and in the end I was surprised by how much I completely loved it.
Do you wish the original stories had been a little kinder to Slytherins?
Perfect. You should read it. Without giving too much away, I’m happy to report that Cursed Child has a whole lot of Slytherin going on. You could go so far as to say the story is a testament to the unsung heroes of Slytherin House—including but not limited to Scorpius Malfoy, Draco’s son, who is bar none my favorite character. The original seven books weren’t completely devoid of Slytherin good guys (Slughorn, Andromeda Tonks, Regulus Black, Snape), but none of these characters were at the forefront of the narrative (besides Snape, whose true allegiance wasn’t revealed until the very end). Cursed Child spends much of its time exploring the age-old Gryffindor/Slytherin dichotomy…and perhaps the idea that there really isn’t much of a dichotomy at all.
In your day to day, do you treasure even the most minute references to all things Harry Potter?
Read it. Though the story belongs to Harry’s son, Albus Severus, it takes place wholly in the wizarding world with which we’re all familiar, and it’s chock full of nods to hardcore fans. For instance, as Albus Severus prepares to enter Platform 9 3/4 for the first time, Harry tells him it’s “best to do it at a run if you’re nervous.” Minor characters like Madam Hooch, Amos Diggory, and Moaning Myrtle pop up. Major characters you wouldn’t expect to meet again do as well. And we haven’t seen the last of the Marauder’s Map, the Invisibility Cloak, or Time-Turners.
Do you like having your heart broken in the best way possible?
Read it. Immediately.
Do you like dad jokes?
Of course you do. I don’t know why I’m even asking. Read it. Ron makes dad jokes galore. It’s kind of incredible.
Are you expecting Cursed Child to be the eighth book in the Harry Potter saga?
Read it. Cursed Child has been billed as the eighth story, which it is, but it is not the eighth book. I think this is an important distinction and one that we’re all aware of on some level; that said, actually experiencing it is totally different.
A theatrical play is an entirely separate storytelling medium. It’s meant to be shown, in the most literal sense of the word. J.K. Rowling has said it herself: a play was the only way to tell this story, and having read the script, I can now fully appreciate what she means. Cursed Child is as rich and wild as the stage demands, and your reading experience will be much more enjoyable if you let go of any rigid expectations and just go in expecting sheer magic.
At the end of the day, do you love Harry Potter?
Read it. This new tale somehow manages to seamlessly reintegrate the old one without feeling forced. There’s a new generation of Hogwarts students, but we haven’t let go of the old one entirely. Look, I’m a Harry Potter fan of the highest caliber. I feel protective of this series because it meant so much to me growing up. I went into Cursed Child unsure of how I’d feel about it, and in the end I was surprised by how much I completely loved it.