On July 31, Harry Potter fans received the latest literary installment about the wizarding world: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The book is set 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and deals with themes such as familial expectations, parenthood and feeling valued. The book’s controversial nature has prompted many readers to question whether the novel is as cursed as its name suggests?

The book begins with Harry and his children at King’s Cross Station on the first day of school. On the Hogwart’s Express, Albus Severus, the youngest Potter boy, forms an unlikely friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco, Harry’s childhood nemesis. Throughout the novel, the friendship grows, just as Harry and Albus’ connection becomes increasingly severed. Albus, in defiance of his father, discovers a time turner with the help of Delphi, a mysterious new friend. Albus and Scorpius travel back in time in order to help Delphi, while getting in trouble along the way.

The book, which is simply a script in novel format, was written by playwright Jack Thorne, director John Tiffany and J.K. Rowling. Since Rowling did not solely author the book, many fans believe the series has lost its authenticity. In addition, the odd characters of Delphi, as well as the rumors that Scorpius is Voldemort’s son contribute to the lack of authenticity as the scenes read a lot like fanfiction.

Another cursed aspect of the book was the way many of the original Harry Potter characters were written; their behavior was uncharacteristic and odd. Both Harry and Hermione exhibit traits unusual to their personality. For example, Harry becomes so exasperated with Albus in one scene, he says he wishes that Albus wasn’t his son. A loyal and caring person such as Harry, who grew up without his parents, would never say anything so harsh to his own son, even under the most extreme of circumstances. In addition, at one point in the novel, Hermione becomes hateful and harsh to some of her students who are simply trying to comprehend the lesson she was teaching. As a dedicated student in her youth, Hermione would never embarrass a student trying to learn.

Not only is the behavior of several characters out of character, but several outcomes are also fairly predictable, which deprives the reader of feelings of suspense. For example, towards the end of the book, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and their kids travel back in time in order to stop Delphi, where a battle ensues. The way the scene was written clearly foreshadows the outcome of the the situation, which makes reading it less thrilling.

Despite several negative aspects of the novel, there is one redeeming quality. The creation of a new Harry Potter book revitalizes the series and allows readers to get to live in the wizarding world a little longer while enjoying new characters.

Despite the lack of authenticity that many readers feel is laced throughout the book, The Cursed Child does reunite the original characters in a fresh setting while reinstating excitement about the wizarding world.