If you're a huge Harry Potter fan like me, then you may have heard of the newest addition to the beloved series: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The book and the play debuted on the same day in 2016; July 30. However, the play actually premiered in the West End, in London, England, not America. That is, until April 22, 2018. That is the date when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened on Broadway in New York City.

So what is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child actually about? Well, the book takes place nineteen years after Voldemort was killed, and the opening scene of the play is Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny sending their kids off to Hogwarts. So apart from the other books, this book now focuses on Harry's son, Albus Severus Potter, who has to deal with the struggle of growing up as Harry Potter's son. One night, Albus overhears his father and Amos Diggory talking. Amos was accusing Harry of being responsible for his son's death, and now wants him to use a time turner to go back in time to try to save him. Harry refuses. This was the moment when Albus first learns of Cedric Diggory. He didn't think it was fair that Cedric was killed the night of the Triwizard Tournament, and all he wants to do now is bring Cedric back to his father. So when Albus returns to Hogwarts, he tells his best friend, Scorpius Malfoy, what he wants to try to do. Albus Potter wants to steal a time turner from the Ministry of Magic in order to travel back in time to try to save Cedric Diggory. But when Albus and Scorpius go to visit Amos Diggory to let him know what they're attempting, Cedric's cousin, Delphini Diggory, says she wants to join them. At this time in the wizarding world, rumors are going around that say Voldemort had a child. People are debating if it is Scorpius Malfoy, or if the rumors are just lies all together. The trio's first attempt to travel back in time changes things only slightly, but when they return from their second attempt hoping to achieve better results, Scorpius realizes that everything has changed because of them. Harry died and Voldemort lived during the Battle of Hogwarts. The world was a dark, cruel place, but once Scorpius enlists the help of Professor Snape, Hermione, and Ron, they try to set things right for hopefully what is the last time. When Scorpius gets back Albus is alive, but now the two of them are in trouble with their parents and teachers. Once Scorpius reveals that he has a time turner, the two boys agree they have to destroy it. But before they can accomplish that, Delphi steals it and announces that she has plans to travel back in time to make sure that Voldemort rules the wizarding world. She travels back to 1981, to the night when Harry's parents were killed in Godric's Hollow. She forced the two boys to come, and when they get there, Delphi destroys the Time Turner, leaving her, Albus, and Scorpius stranded in time. Will Albus and Scorpius be able to stop Delphi from bringing back the darkest and most dangerous wizard of all time?

The cool thing about this book is that it was written in two parts. The first half of the book is Part One and the second half is Part Two. When you're at the actual play, the first part you go to see is two hours and forty minutes long. After you see the first part, you come back to see the second part, which is about two hours and thirty five minutes long. You can see both parts in the same day, or you can break it up and see them separately. I recommend breaking it up, considering both parts are long, and both parts in one day would be exceptionally long. But now that you have some information, do what works best for you!

Now, some people might not think that this book ties in with the rest of the series, but it actually compliments the other novels very well. It picks up from the exact same spot it ended on in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; King's Cross Station. The only difference between the other books and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is that this book is written as a screenplay. This was neat, because this way the actors in the play can recite lines directly from the book. There are rumors going around that there might be a movie, but not for a couple of years...I guess we'll just have to wait to see!

Let's talk about the actors. You may have heard by now that the original cast for the Cursed Child play are not the actors from the movies. We've grown up watching the same actors portray the same characters, so when a new actor takes their place it may seem a little weird. I will admit, when I saw the new actors and actresses for the first time I didn't think I'd be able to picture them as the Golden Trio just because I was so used to Daniel, Rupert, and Emma. But as the play went on I got more comfortable and began to see that it didn't matter who played who, all of the new actors were amazing. Paul Thornley, the actor who plays Ronald Weasley, made me laugh until my stomach hurt. Noma Dumezweni, the actress who plays Hermione Granger, made me smile because she portrayed her character so well. And Jamie Parker, the actor who plays Harry Potter, was so good as the wizard he was playing, it made me miss Hogwarts all over again. Every single actor and actress in this play were amazing, and told the story of Hogwarts in a way I will never forget.

So, after reading this do you think you want to go see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? It will be on Broadway until May 2019, so what are you waiting for? Writing this review made me want to see it all over again! But Harry Potter and the Cursed Child isn't only in London and New York City. It's coming to Melbourne, Australia, in January of 2019, San Francisco, California, in Fall of 2019, and Hamburg, Germany, in Spring of 2020. Maybe you'll be able to visit by then! Trust me, you won't regret it.