If you've been absent from planet Earth since June 2015 you may not be aware of the latest addition to the world of Harry Potter: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. So, for the benefit of those of you who have been living under a large rock for several months, I'll explain what this newest instalment entails.

The play - written by Jack Thorne and based on the concept by JK Rowling - is in two parts and follows Albus Severus Potter, whom you may remember from the many debates and arguments throughout the Potter fandom relating to his name. New Hogwarts student Albus, struggling with the burden of bearing the Potter name, sets out on an adventure with his best friend Scorpius Malfoy (more on him later).

I adored being given the opportunity to to revisit one of my favourite fictional worlds and see the characters I loved so much as a child have children of their own and deal with the trials of adulthood and parenthood. It was no surprise to me that Hermione had become Minister for Magic, and that Ron now ran a joke shop just like his older brothers - although I couldn't help but feel that Ron had reverted back to his role as comic sidekick after we'd seen him grow so much throughout the seven books. The use of the time turner and paintings was a wonderful way of allowing us to see characters I wasn't expecting, like Snape, Dumbledore and even Umbridge! However I would have liked to have seen more of my favourite characters from the original books. Neville was mentioned, but what is Luna up to? What about the rest of the Weasleys?

I also felt that we missed out on an opportunity to learn more about the next generation. Teddy Lupin wasn't featured at all, and James and Lily Potter and Rose Weasley - a perfect combination of her parents - we didn't see nearly enough of. Having said that I loved getting to know Albus and Scorpius. Scorpius quickly became my favourite character and he wasn't what I was expecting at all. He was wonderfully nerdy and dorky and nothing like his father. As a proud Slytherin myself, it was truly refreshing to see Slytherins in a new geeky, heroic light.

I also couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed by the extremely dark events involving the return of Voldemort considering the final line in 'The Deathly Hallows' is "All was well". And, as much as I would like to discover  more about this next generation, I really do hope all is well this time.

On the 28th May 2016 I met two of my favourite people on this planet: Patrick Ness, author of my favourite book, and Bethan Downs, one of my best and closest friends. Running across the muddy entrance of the Hay Festival to receive one of Bethan's well known bear hugs was an entire year (and one week) in the making. For so long Bethan was just this hilarious, wonderful, nerdy friend I met through Instagram. But now she is this hilarious, wonderful, nerdy friend who I have seen and hugged and had my nose booped by.  

I (finally) went to see 'Room' on Saturday and, despite the fact that this is pretty late since a lot of people saw the film long ago, I decided to write about my feelings on it as I thought it was really well done. This review will contain spoilers for both the book and film so if you haven't read/watched I recommend you go and do just that and then come back.


Firstly I want to say that I really really enjoyed this film. That sounds kind of sickening when you know what the story is about but the relationship and chemistry between Jack and his Ma was so beautiful and heartwarming I couldn't get enough of it. Jack, played by 9 year old Jacob Tremblay, was absolutely incredible. When he was sad, I was sad. When he was happy, I was happy too. They couldn't have chosen a better actor to play Jack. Sorry Leo, but I really think Tremblay should have been nominated for that Oscar. Brie Larson played Joy (Ma) and I can confirm that she one hundred percent deserved her Oscar. I could feel both her frustration and love towards Jack as she desperately tried to help him understand their circumstances. None of us can possibly understand what it feels like to be in a situation like Jack and Joy's but Larson's performance somehow gave me a glimpse of what they might be going through.

I finished reading the book just days before watching the film yet I was on the edge of my seat during moments such as the escape scene. I knew exactly what was going to happen next but that didn't stop my heart beating any faster. I'll admit I didn't actually cry but I did well up on several occasions, particularly those between Jack and Joy. I was a little skeptical at first as to how they would manage to keep what was, in my opinion, the most important aspect of the story: Jack's perspective. Since the entire book is told from Jack's point of view the reader is given a  really unique and innocent understanding of the events that unfold in the novel. But the fact that Jack was part of almost, if not all, scenes in the film meant you could clearly tell that this was Jack's outlook we were getting.

However, I would say that there were a few aspects of the book that I think would have fitted well into the film adaptation, such as the explanation of why Joy has continued to breastfeed Jack, and also the fact that Joy had given birth to another baby before Jack as these may have helped someone who hadn't read the book get a deeper insight into what Jack and Joy's lives were really like whilst in Room. I would also say that the brief story line involving Joy's father not wishing to look at Jack because he reminded him of Old Nick could have been developed a little further. I didn't really feel that this was outrightly explained in the film so, again, I think you were at an advantage if you'd read the book first.

Having said that, the film was incredibly moving and they did an extremely good job of keeping me on my toes despite knowing what would happen next. The acting was absolutely mind blowing, and I also appreciated subtle references to their kidnapping such as the glimpse we get of Joy's mother reading 'The Book Thief' in which Max hides away in a basement to escape the Nazis.

4/5 stars

Words honestly cannot describe how much I loved this book. This is definitely one of, if not the best, book Cassandra Clare has every written. 'Lady Midnight' is the first book in Cassandra Clare's new trilogy, 'The Dark Artifices', set five years after 'City of Heavenly Fire' ended. I don't want to give too much away because, if you're anything like me, practically any piece of information about this book counts as a spoiler. It follows Emma Carstairs and her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, who both lost parents in the Dark War during 'The Mortal Instruments'. Emma is set on discovering the truth about her parents' deaths as she is convinced there is something that separates them from the deaths of thousands of others in the Dark War.

The relationships and dynamics within this book were really what stood out for me, particularly those between Emma and Julian, and the Blackthorn family. Since Emma is the main protagonist of the story, her parabatai bond with Julian (who I'm in love with) was explored in a huge amount of depth and I couldn't get enough of their friendship. The relationship between the Blackthorn family was so unique. Mark and Helen, the two oldest Blackthorn children, were sent away after the Dark War due to their faerie blood. This left twelve year old Julian to raise his four younger siblings. The dynamics between this family were so well-written by Clare. Each member of the family was unique and had their own quirks and role to play in the L.A Institute.

The first portion of the book required quite a lot of description of the L.A Institute and the Blackthorn family yet not at one point did I feel bored. I had no choice but to give this book five stars as there was honestly nothing I didn't like in this book. The two year wait was absolutely worth it.