Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

Title: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

Author: Jack Thorne & John Tiffany
Genre: Fantasy, Play
Source: Library Hardback
Rating:2 out of 5 paws


It is several years after the Battle at Hogwarts and the trios kids are going to Hogwarts.  Harry's son Albus struggles with living up to the Potter name and how to discover who  he is in the wizarding world.  When he befriends Draco Malfoy's son Harry believes he is in danger.  But daner begins when the boys steal a time turner to go back to the Triwizard Tournament to try and save Cedric Diggory, thus changing time and setting off a series of events.  Harry and Draco both must learn the truth about themselves and their sons.

This was not at all what I was expecting.  I am not normally a fan of plays so it was a little more difficult for me to read through this one and get a feel for the setting and how events transpired. I wanted to like it a lot more than I did, and honestly I did not fancy it all that much.  I feel a little disappointed in it.  It was hard to relate to characters or get interested in them.  This is definitely not one that I would purchase for myself.  I thrive on a story having description, something that pulls me into the story makes me long to read more and this didn't do it beyond wanting to know where the authors were taking this story...morbid curiosity?


There were moments that made me smile and appreciate a little humor, but there was nothing that hit me in the feels or made me gasp and HAVE to turn the page.  I wanted something more compelling and a little less predictable.  It was almost too easy to predict what was going to happen and how.  I disliked how the characters were portrayed, Harry was a total douche-bag to Albus and even Ginny at times.  Ron was an imbecile, and oblivious to everything around him, and Draco I don't even know who the Draco was in this book. 

I expected something similar to the originals, kids in class experiencing what it means to be a wizard, sure Albus dealing with living in the shadow of his father same with Scorpius along with the other stuff that happened, but that is not what we get.  We aren't even in Hogwarts...at all.  It's immediately thrown into the story of polyjuice potion (of course), stealing, time turners, flashbacks, and of course Voldemort.  By the third or fourth act Albus is already a fourth year, so we get NOTHING of his struggles at Hogwarts other than him saying it's horrible.  BUT WHY?  I would have liked a new villain, one that had no association with Voldemort.  It felt like this was an opportunity to create something new out of the Harry Potter universe, but it relies too heavily on reliving the past or rather trying to change it.

There was a few things that I didn't like at all one of which a comment Harry makes about not having a father figure and not knowing how to be one......SAY WHAT???  Do we need to rehash almost every man in Harry's life?  I was not happy with this book and it makes me sad.  I am glad I borrowed this from the library rather than purchasing it for myself.  I was curious about it, and know I know this was not a play for me.  I don't even want to see the play on broadway.  If you are a Harry Potter fan, I would not recommend this.

The Misanthrope

Title: The Misanthrope
Author: S.M Boyce
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Kindle Ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5


This is the story of how Stone became, well...Stone.  Prior to being the first vagabond, prior to training Kara he was a servant boy named Terric.  As a young boy he was intent on learning more and reading as many books as he could steal from his master, but when he is caught and tries to run away he is captured by someone else who stabs him with something and then drowns him.  Upon his death Terric meets, Death himself who gives him a option to return to life but as a being known as an Isen.  But with the catch that he is under the control of Niccoli his new master.  Terric gains the name Stone and spends his lifetime trying to figure out how to survive without making new Isens or how to make them without painfully killing them, and how he can escape Niccoli.  Will Stone be able to learn how to defy Niccoli and finally be free from a life of servitude?

I have been waiting for a story about Stone.  I love his character, I craved more of his backstory, while this one was interesting to read, it didn't capture me as much as S.M. Boyce's other novels.  It was a lot of backstory and I understand we may have more from Stone's story and I am eagerly waiting to see what else is in store him and how he figures out how to escape Niccoli's commands.  He is a character that doesn't just blindly follow his master, he questions things and tries to do things differently than his master.  I like the character of Stone because of that, because he doesn't blindly follow Niccoli and does whatever he says for the sake of obedience.  While he is still a slave of sorts he is still his own man with his own mind and desires.


S.M Boyce has created this world of Ourea filled with unknown magic and creatures that completely unique to her vision.  She creates empathy for her characters in a way that remains with the readers throughout the story.  I love that all her characters remain true to themselves even some of the minor characters remain who they are and you have a slight insight to who they were prior to becoming Isen.  This book shows readers the importance of these characters while in Grimoire Saga we see them as "evil", Boyce shows that not all of them are, and readers gain a sense of sympathy for them through this story.  I am eager to read what is next in this series and can't wait to begin Deidra's story!


So far I have read I think 4 of Boyce's novels and she has  yet to disappoint.  Each novel seems to surpass the last, and I expect that to continue with this series.  I  highly recommend anything by SM Boyce and look forward to seeing more of her amazing writing in the future.  Pick yourself up a copy and see her magical writing for yourself.  You won't be able to stop from getting another one.