Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany

Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Author: J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne & John Tiffany
Genre: YA Fantasy / Play Script 
Publisher: Little Brown Books UK
Published: July 31st 2016
Page Number: 343
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

 

REVIEW

 

This review is going to be short and sweet, mainly because it's difficult judging and reviewing a play script when you're not at all used to them. But my main thoughts for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is that it should definitely be seen performed for you to fully understand everything. Reading a script to actually seeing it be acted out are two entirely different things and I definitely feel like you'll get more out of seeing the show.

 

The script itself is decently written. I'm not sure if I did spot a few errors as I was reading along but it wasn't something that threw me from the book and the nostalgia that I was getting. Being able to finally read the life of Harry, Ron and Hermione 19 years later is something that I never thought we'd get to see but J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany really delivered something good.

 

Albus and Scorpius made the entire script in my opinion. For some reason Harry's character was always trying for it to be about him. He blamed himself about everything and honestly I got bored of him. Harry's character was so horrible, in fact I wonder how Albus is even part of their family because he's nothing like any of them. I was disappointed with the way they ended Albus and Scorpius' relationship because I saw it heading in a gay relationship. They had way too much chemistry for friendship. And I know I'm not the only one who thought so too. So for me I saw it as a huge cop out and definitely something that annoyed me.

 

Overall, I don't think Cursed Child is something that I personally needed in my life but I'm glad I read it. But I'm more excited to see the show next year. I think I'll really be able to grasp everything that did and didn't happen in the script. But if you're on the fence on whether you should read it then my advice would be to go into it with no expectations. This is basically fan fiction. J.K Rowling didn't write any of this and it isn't a novel, it's a play. However, it does still give you nostalgia and missed feelings of Hogwarts.

 

 

 

Books to TV Series #2 | All Souls Trilogy

I can't believe how popular the first post of this new series on my blog was. I'm....well, speechless which doesn't happen often. I'm so happy that you guys all liked the series idea and showed me support on social media.

Today's pick is the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Now I actually have a story about this series and my love of it. This series is unlike anything I have ever read before, a lot of people, teenagers mainly compare the book to Twilight since it's their only reference but it's nothing like Twilight. And I mean nothing. It's filled with historical references, action and a lot of romance. So much swoon-worthy romance

I discovered the book in 2011, when I was 15 or 16 years old. At the time I was highly addicted to Paranormal TV shows like Most Haunted and Paranormal Witness. I may or may not have looked into learning witchcraft. I was in my local Tesco's when I spotted the book. The cover and title sucked me in and I bought it. When I got home I had tried to read it but couldn't get past the first few pages. They were kind of very mundane and so I threw the book into my bedside cabinet and forgot about it. Until a month later. I was bored one Saturday afternoon and picked it up. I got past the first chapter and before long I was falling in love with the characters and their story. By Sunday night I have read over 400 pages. And that was a whole lotta pages back then, especially with its tiny font. I had school on Monday. Did I go? Nope. I was more bothered about finishing the book, so I faked that I was ill. My mother bought it and I spent the entire day drinking tea, eating tomato soup and finishing off the last 250 pages. It's fair to say that it was the best day off I've ever had.

Anyway. Last year Deborah announced that the BBC had bought the TV rights for the series and I freaked the freak out. I was so giddy. This series was the series that got me into reading, not only that it is the one series that I have reread so many times. (No joke! I've read ADoW 23 times, SoN 8 times and TBoL once.) When Deborah announced a few years ago that the movie rights had sold I will be honest and say that I was a little annoyed. Happy but mainly annoyed. I love the series and a movie just would not work. The potential for a series and by BBC is so huge. I have faith in what they'll do and I'm sure they won't mind if I nag until I get a small role in the series myself. (Okay. That will NEVER happen, but who knows? Life is surprising) Iflist has it's own fan casting but here are some of my own fan casts.

 

Diana Bishop // Diane Kruger // Inglorious Basterds, The Host

 

Matthew Clairmont // Richard Armitage // North and South, The Hobbit

 

Ysabeau de Clermont //  Mélanie Thierry // Babylon A.D, Henry V

 

Sarah Bishop // Kathy Bates // Titanic, American Horror Story

 

Emily Mather //

 

Hamish Osbourne // Daniel Radcliffe // Harry Potter, The Woman in Black, Horns

 

Marthe // Adrienne Barbeau // The Fog, Maude, Batman (Animated Series)

 

Gallowglass de Clermont // Charlie Hunnam // Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim

 
Marcus Whitmore //  Dan Stevens // Donwton Abbey

Miriam Sherpard // Claire Foy // Season of the Witch, Wolf Hall

I am super excited for whatever the BBC does and I know that these fan castings probably won't happen, but it's been fun looking at who I think would make for a great series.

 

 

 

Who would you fan cast as these characters?

Let me know in the comments!

Review: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Title: The Young Elites
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Penguin UK
Published: February 5th 2015
Page Number: 368
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever, marked by a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Branded as a Malfetto - an abomination - she is cast out from all she has ever known and loved.

Adelina finds sanctuary with other Malfettos and discovers that the disease has left her with more than just a scar - she has a mysterious and powerful gift.

She is a Young Elite.

But Adelina's ability is stronger than any Young Elite before her. And unless she can control the vengeful darkness growing in her heart Adelina could be a danger to them all.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

 

REVIEW

 

 

This book could have easily been a dislike for me, since I wasn't a big fan of Marie Lu's debut novel, Legend. However, The Young Elites ended up becoming not only my second favourite book of the year, but also my all time favourite Fantasy novel.

I've always mentioned that I'm not the biggest fans of protagonists who are hero's. And one of the reasons that attracted me to The Young Elites was the fact that Adelina isn't a protagonist, but an antagonist. She's a good character who's powers come from darkness.

Marie Lu's writing has always captured my attention. It's not like any other authors I've read, it's beautiful and poetic, completely engaging and enthralling; something you can't take your eyes off even for a split second. And if I am being honest, I weren't one hundred percent sure it was going to work for The Young Elites, but it completely did. The time setting mixed with the characters and the city they lived in was enhanced by Marie's writing. I wasn't reading a book, I was reading a book and watching a movie at the exact same time.

The characters were fresh and exciting, completely compelling. Adelina was dark, twisted and creepy, but there was also this side to her that wanted everyone to like her. She wanted to be properly liked for the first time by people who didn't see her scar as something to fear.

“No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to be the version of yourself that they like.”

 

The book also followed two other characters that played a huge part in the novel: Raffaele and Teren. Teren is the hypocritical enemy, who everyone wants dead. He's vicious and will do anything to end the lives of all Malfetto's. And honestly? I LOVED his character. I think he's a little misunderstood, but I know his actions come from his own hatred. He doesn't like who he is and wants to be released from all his sins. And I understood that.

 

Raffaele was a character that entranced you and made you fall in love. Literally. His special power allowed him to capture the hearts of those around them, made them fall in love with him. And I'm pretty sure it doesn't end at fictional characters, because I fell for his charm and wit like everyone else.

 

There were so many plot twists that came unexpectedly and each and every one had me silent. I hadn't predicted them like I do when reading most novels and that proves just how great Marie Lu is. She knows how to twist and turn the story and weaves it into something completely different, new; something completely brilliant. And that ending had me on my knees begging for a copy of The Rose Society (Book 2), because there is know way I can't not know what happens. It's a must for me!

 

 

 

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: September 19th 2012
Page Number: 454
Rating: 2/5

Blue has spent the majority of her sixteen years being told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. When Blue meets Gansey’s spirit on the corpse road she knows there is only one reason why – either he is her true love or she has killed him.

Determined to find out the truth, Blue becomes involved with the Raven Boys, four boys from the local private school (lead by Gansey) who are on a quest to discover Glendower – a lost ancient Welsh King who is buried somewhere along the Virginia ley line. Whoever finds him will be granted a supernatural favour.

Never before has Blue felt such magic around her. But is Gansey her true love? She can’t imagine a time she would feel like that, and she is adamant not to be the reason for his death. Where will fate lead them?

I was really looking forward to reading The Raven Boys since I have heard nothing but great things about the series. And since it was about Welsh Mythology, and I am Welsh myself I though that I would really, really like it, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

The Prologue and Chapter 1 were so interesting and they easily captured my attention. I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. But after that things started to get.....boring. Nothing was happening apart from the fact that we learn that Blue has a job and Adam skips school because his father hits him. That was it. There was nothing interesting going on to keep my attention, and by the time that I was on page 160, I had to give up. I couldn't force myself to continue reading a book I simply wasn't enjoying.

What I really liked about the book were Blue's eccentric family. They all harness psychic abilities, but they're all very unusual as well and I found them to be very charming. They reminded me of Nanny McPhee, not in a bad way. Just how their personalities were very similar. I also liked how Maggie showed that family doesn't always have to be of a blood relation, sometimes your best friends can be like your brothers and sisters.

I did, however, have a few problems with the Mythology in the book. Like I said, I am Welsh so I knew what Maggie was talking about, but when she started calling Owain Glyndwr, Glendower then things started to go wrong. Owain Glyndwr is a Welsh legend, so changing his name - even though it was so that people could pronounce it - just didn't sit well with me, I know it also didn't sit well with a friend of mine.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers. But it does heavily depend on what books you like to read. So if you think you'd like this book, then go ahead and read it!

 

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

Monday Missions #1

What is Monday Missions? Monday Missions was created by my friend Daisy. She's a booktuber like me, and her idea is to show her TBR for that week. I liked idea and decided to do it (I had her permission of course)

Goodreads pages are linked in book titles.

Book 1: Little Celeste by Dawn McNiff

This book is about an eleven year old girl, called Shelley. Her mother is distant and one day she leaves her room for two minutes and when she returns there's a baby on her bed. She must then care for the baby. Apparently if you love Jacqueline Wilson then you'll love this, and I love Jacqueline Wilson. Anyway, I picked this book because it sounds so family oriented and I need one of them books about now. Also I've heard some great things about it!

Book 2: Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

Apparently this book is 'Twilight' but with Aliens instead. By the sypnosis though, it's about a 17 year old girl who moves to a new town. Her neighbour is very arrogant, but it's because he's an alien. They hate each other until someone tries to attack Katy and the only way she'll survive is by staying with Daemon. I picked this book because I need to start this series. My friends all love it as well and it's calling to me.

Book 3: Trouble by Non Pratt

This book is based on a 15 year old girl called Hannah who get's pregnant. A new boy starts at her school who she befriends, could be the other way round and he pretends to be the father so she doesn't look like a slut. I decided to read this because I am a Trouble Book VIP, so my copy is signed just for me. Also I like contemporaries.

Book 4: Half Bad by Sally Green

Half Bad follows a boy named Nathan who's the child to a white witch (good) and a black witch (bad). His mother died and since he was the age of 14 he's been locked in a cage. By the time he's 17 he needs to have escaped his cage, but the only problem his he cant trust anyone. I NEED TO READ THIS NOW! This book I have been looking for everywhere, now I can start it.

Book Review: Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells

 
    Book Name: Dirty Magic
    Author: Jaye Wells
    UK Release Date: January 2014
    UK Publishers: Orbit Publishers
     Summary:

The last thing patrol cop Kate Prospero expected to find on her nightly rounds was a werewolf covered in the blood of his latest victim. But then, she also didn't expect that shooting him would land her in the crosshairs of a Magic Enforcement Agency task force, who wants to know why she killed their lead snitch.

The more Prospero learns about the dangerous new potion the MEA is investigating, the more she's convinced that earning a spot on their task force is the career break she's been wanting. But getting the assignment proves much easier than solving the case. Especially once the investigation reveals their lead suspect is the man she walked away from ten years earlier—on the same day she swore she'd never use dirty magic again.

Kate Prospero's about to learn the hard way that crossing a wizard will always get you burned, and that when it comes to magic, you should be never say never

Praise for Jaye Wells

'A fresh, magical world full of potion junkies and alchemists that promises to break new ground in paranormal thrillers.' Laurell K. Hamilton

'A sharp, high-speed paranormal thriller.' SciFiNow

'Dirty Magic is like nothing else currently happening in urban fantasy. Grim, gritty, and great.' Seanan McGuire (aka Mira Grant, author of FEED)

Review:

 

First off I must say that I was sent this from the publishers for an honest review.

 

I've never read an Urban Fantasy before, and if I am honest I was scared going into it because I knew from the summary that this was a novel that I wouldn't be all that into because detective novels are something I've always struggled with. But I really did enjoy this book.

 

 

The beginning was really hard to get into, the characters were just living normal, boring lives and it was really slow. I did think it was going to be quite fast paced and action packed from the beginning, but after a few chapters it really did pick up. New characters were introduced, and my favourite protagonist was Morales. He was witty, cocky and just a general guy you'd expect to see in a detective novel.

 

Along the way, I did start to notice that the mysteries became more predictable, however, the first twist did shock me. I had suspected another character: Either her uncle Abe or her boss. It was neither of these people though. It was a character you would least suspect.

 

Now even though I liked the book, I did not love it. There were quite a few typo's: missing words or just unusual sentence structure. And, sadly it did take away from the book. But as for a first book in a crime/urban fantasy series I really do think it got off to a good start and I am certainly looking forward to the sequel Cursed Moon. Especially since the ending of the first book was so incredible.

 

Overall, I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5 stars.