'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' Launches on iBooks

The newest story set in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe, called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, has launched worldwide on Apple's iBooks platform. Referred to as "the eighth story," Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a script of the play of the same name, which has been in previews at the Palace Theatre in London over the last few weeks, and made its official world premiere tonight.

The play is based on an original story from Rowling, along with collaboration from director John Tiffany and writer Jack Thorne, and picks up the story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in line with that novel's epilogue. The plot is said to not only be focused on the three heroes, but their various offspring and their own time at Hogwarts.

harry potter cursed child

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.

Told in two parts with an intermission in between, the script released today contains both halves of the story and is referred to as "The Special Rehearsal Edition." Scholastic -- Rowling's longtime publisher in the U.S. and Canada -- plans to release a "Definitive Edition" of the story in early 2017, which will contain fine-tuned tweaks made through Cursed Child's preview run, including the play's "perfected, definitive" script and final stage directions.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be available in all markets supported by iBooks beginning on July 31, coinciding with the birthday of Harry Potter himself. Within the United States and United Kingdom, users will be able to choose from iBooks [Direct Link], Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Google, Kobo, and WHSmith (exclusively in the U.K.) as e-book options. The e-book is priced at $14.99, while the retail version of the book will cost fans $17.99, and will be available at most brick-and-mortar booksellers.

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Top Rated Comments

naeS1Sean Avatar
116 months ago
So much hate already. Jesus. Why do I come here.

(Please, I don't need any hateful comments. I won't read them anyway.)
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
116 months ago
Just when you thought we had survived the cultural lobotomy initiated by Rowling, she does what true hacks do best: return to the well.
WTF? What lobotomy? She got a bunch of kids interested in reading. Why so much hate? Did she shoot your dog or something?
[doublepost=1469985863][/doublepost]
So much hate already. Jesus. Why do I come here.

(Please, I don't need any hateful comments. I won't read them anyway.)
I'm getting the impression there's a percentage of the people here for whom hate is like a sport.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
179202 Avatar
116 months ago
Just finished it. 4/10. She would have done better to write an actual novel.
But that's not what this is. It's a play. By reading this, you're missing the staging and acting which is a HUGE part of what makes a play good. If you don't like reading scripts, don't read it. It's not rocket science.
[doublepost=1469962991][/doublepost]
Harry Potter and the Search for Relevance
Harry Potter and the One-Trick Author
Harry Potter and the Magic Money Printing Press
Harry Potter and the Tired Meme
You know the author has a writing pseudonym right? Obviously not as successful as Potter, but Potters success is lightning in a bottle. That she keeps choosing to grow the world (whether it be with stories set in USA or moving from film/books to theatre) is great. Keeps it interesting for fans. There's no reason she couldn't get many more huge narratives out of it. Each medium is very different. But hey, it's easy to sit on a forum and insult people.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
116 months ago
Harry Potter and the Search for Relevance
Harry Potter and the One-Trick Author
Harry Potter and the Magic Money Printing Press
Harry Potter and the Tired Meme
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
naeS1Sean Avatar
116 months ago
Harry Potter and What Have You A$$holes Accomplished With Your Life?
[doublepost=1469988954][/doublepost]
WTF? What lobotomy? She got a bunch of kids interested in reading. Why so much hate? Did she shoot your dog or something?
[doublepost=1469985863][/doublepost]
I'm getting the impression there's a percentage of the people here for whom hate is like a sport.
Yes!!!
[doublepost=1469989015][/doublepost]
Success breeds envy. This web site is full of bitter old hacks that never cashed in on their half talents.
I completely agree.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kronusdark Avatar
116 months ago
Just finished it, I actually quite liked it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)